Katsina gov inaugurates $1m project to protect farmers from floods, drought

File: Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda.

Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, has launched a $1m climate-resilience project aimed at protecting vulnerable farming communities from the growing threats of floods, drought, soil degradation and post-harvest losses.

The 12-month intervention, titled “Protecting Food Security Against Recurring Floods and Drought,” will initially be implemented in Bindawa, Bakori and Kafur Local Government Areas by Mercy Corps Nigeria, in collaboration with the Katsina State Development Management Board and the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.

Speaking at the project launch in Katsina on Thursday, Radda said climate change had become an unavoidable threat to the state’s agricultural economy, stressing that the government and development partners must take practical measures to protect livelihoods and food production.

According to him, “Climate change is a reality. We have no way to hide from it, and we must confront it with all our capacity and ability so that together we can fight it.”

Radda, who described Katsina as an agrarian state whose population depends heavily on agriculture, said interventions capable of protecting land and water resources were critical to increasing food production, household incomes and economic stability.

“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,” he said.

The governor directed the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and KTDMB to strengthen coordination among government agencies and development partners involved in the project, while urging the three beneficiary local governments to provide the necessary support for effective implementation.

He also directed the Ministry of Environment and the Department of Climate Change to examine the project and determine how similar climate-resilience interventions could be extended to other parts of the state.

“Our aim is for every local government in the state to benefit from this laudable initiative,” Radda said.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of KTDMB, Dr Mustapha Shehu, said the $1m project was designed to address vulnerabilities identified through available data and baseline assessments being conducted in the three beneficiary local government areas.

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Shehu noted that the intervention 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.

According to him, the project would build on previous partnerships between Katsina State and development organisations, particularly Mercy Corps, which he said had contributed to strengthening community resilience, peace and social cohesion.

Giving details of the intervention, Mercy Corps Nigeria Programme Manager, Philip Ikita, said the project would adopt a “prevention-first” approach by protecting agricultural assets and strengthening communities’ ability to withstand climate-related shocks.

Ikita stressed that the project would construct soil bunds, contour barriers and drainage systems on 150 selected farms, while degraded land would be restored through vegetation under a cash-for-work programme engaging 180 people.

“At least 12 solar-powered water systems will be rehabilitated to support livestock and farming communities, particularly during the dry season,” he said, adding that water committees and technicians would also be trained to sustain the facilities.

The project will also rehabilitate 150 food storage facilities, distribute 500 hermetic storage bags and train households on improved storage techniques to reduce post-harvest losses.

Ikita said about 300 women would receive support for livelihood diversification, while farmers would be trained in climate-smart agricultural practices.

He added that communities would be trained in hazard mapping, contingency planning and preparedness to enable them to respond more effectively to changing weather patterns.

The programme manager said priority would be given to smallholder farmers, households dependent on grazing land, women and women-headed households, vulnerable families with young children, youths participating in the cash-for-work programme, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.

The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Malik Anas, described the intervention as timely, saying its success would depend largely on effective grassroots monitoring and coordination.