Norwegian council supports 833 farmers with irrigation tools in Borno

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) in partnership with Duetsche Gesellschaft fiir Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) has supported 833 farmers with irrigation tools in Borno State.

According to the council, the 13-year conflict and economic impact of COVID-19 have impaired access to means of livelihood and basic needs of life.

NRC’s Media and Communication Coordinator, Samuel Jegede, said the household farmers were provided with irrigation inputs to restore their destroyed means of livelihood.

The support is funded by the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, he said.

Jegede said: “This support was to improve household and community resilience to market, conflict and climate-induced shocks in Borno State.

“The farm and irrigation inputs comprise certified improved seeds, organic liquid fertiliser, knapsack sprayers and personnel protective equipment and water pumps with hoses.”

He noted that this would enable the farmers to access water all-year round to support their irrigation farming in the state.

Besides, he added that NRC also provided training and start-up cash grants to scale up income-generating activities.

According to him, about 840 households are engaged livestock production, processing and petty trading to generate income.

“Some of the farmers were able to rent shops and buy tools and machines to utilise their existing skills in tailoring, carpentry and hairdressing,” he said.

Tonny Villy, NRC’s Area Manager, North Office, said that NRC provided food and livelihood support to 27,287 households in 2021.