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Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has launched a $1 million food security project aimed at strengthening the resilience of vulnerable farming communities against recurring floods and drought in the state.
The project, titled “Protecting Food Security Against Recurring Floods and Drought,” is being implemented by Mercy Corps Nigeria in collaboration with the Katsina State Development Management Board, KTDMB, and the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, with support from development partners.
Speaking at the launch in Katsina, Governor Radda described climate change as a reality requiring collective action and practical interventions.
“Climate change is a reality. We have no way to hide from it, and we must confront it with all the capacity and ability so that together we can fight it,” he said.
Mr Radda said the intervention was particularly important because Katsina is an agrarian state where a large proportion of the population depends on agriculture for their livelihoods.
He said protecting land and water resources and improving agricultural productivity were essential to strengthening food security and livelihoods.
“Anything that will protect our environment, anything that will improve the environment and enable us to produce more, feed more and generate more income is something that all of us need to work towards,” the governor said.
He assured development partners of the state government’s cooperation and urged the three beneficiary local governments to support the implementation of the project.
Mr Radda also directed the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and KTDMB to ensure effective coordination among relevant ministries, departments and agencies involved in the intervention.
He further directed the Ministry of Environment and the Department of Climate Change to examine the project and consider replicating similar climate-resilience initiatives in other parts of the state.
“Our aim is for every local government in the state to benefit from this laudable initiative,” he said.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of KTDMB, Dr Mustapha Shehu, said the project would run for one year and initially cover Bindawa, Bakori and Kafur Local Government Areas.
Shehu said the three local governments were selected based on available data and identified vulnerabilities to climate-related shocks.
He disclosed that baseline assessments were already being conducted in the beneficiary communities to establish benchmarks and generate data for possible expansion of the intervention.
According to him, the project would be coordinated by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and implemented with relevant ministries, including Agriculture, Livestock Development, Youth, Women Affairs, and Security and Home Affairs.
Shehu recalled previous development interventions carried out in Katsina through partnerships with organisations such as Mercy Corps, saying the collaborations had helped strengthen community resilience, peace and social cohesion.
Giving an overview of the project, the Programme Manager of Mercy Corps Nigeria, Philip Ikita, said the intervention was designed to address challenges facing vulnerable farming communities, including floods, drought, soil erosion, poor storage facilities, post-harvest losses, poverty and inadequate drainage and water management systems.
Ikita said the project would adopt a prevention-first approach by protecting agricultural assets, restoring degraded land, improving water management and strengthening food storage systems.
He said soil bunds, contour barriers and drainage systems would be constructed on 150 selected farms.
He added that degraded land would be restored through vegetation, while 180 workers would be engaged under a cash-for-work programme.
According to him, at least 12 solar-powered water systems would also be rehabilitated to support livestock and farming communities, particularly during the dry season.
He said water committees and technicians would be trained to ensure effective management and maintenance of the facilities.
The project would also rehabilitate 150 food storage facilities, distribute 500 hermetic bags and train households on improved storage methods to reduce post-harvest losses.
Ikita said farmers would receive training in climate-smart agriculture, while about 300 women would be supported to diversify their livelihoods.
He added that communities would be trained in hazard mapping, contingency planning and preparedness for changing weather conditions.
The programme manager said priority would be given to smallholder farmers, households dependent on grazing land, women and women-headed households, families with young children, youths engaged in the cash-for-work component, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable households.
He said implementation would begin with assessments and procurement, followed by construction, land restoration, training and strengthening of community committees before handover and project close-out at the end of the 12-month period.
The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Malik Anas, commended Mercy Corps Nigeria and KTDMB for the intervention, describing it as timely.
Anas said the project would help vulnerable communities cope with the effects of floods and drought while improving food security and livelihoods.
He urged relevant ministries, departments and agencies to participate actively in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the project.
The commissioner also called for effective grassroots monitoring, urging project personnel and stakeholders to maintain a presence in the beneficiary local governments and properly document activities and outcomes.
The Commissioner for Livestock Development, Prof Ahmed Mohammed Bakori, also commended the initiative, stressing the importance of interventions aimed at supporting vulnerable communities and protecting livelihoods.
Similarly, the Chairman of Katsina Local Government Area, Isah Miqdad Sa’ude, appreciated the state government, Mercy Corps Nigeria and KTDMB for selecting the beneficiary local governments.
The event was attended by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Abdulkadir Mamman Nasir; members of the state Executive Council; senior government officials; development partners; traditional rulers; local government chairmen; business leaders and other stakeholders.
