The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in partnership with American University of Nigeria (AUN); have distributed farm inputs to 100 farmers in Yobe. The distributed inputs comprise tons of fertilizers, insecticides and knapsack sprayers to prevent post-harvest losses. While flagging off distribution at weekend in Damaturu, the Commissioner of Agriculture, Dr. Mairo Amshi disclosed: “The distribution of farm inputs to 100 farmers in Yobe state, was to commence this year’s cropping season. “The UNHCR and AUN also targeted 450 farmers across the state to restore their means of livelihoods destroyed during the decade long Boko Haram insurgency.” She noted that the state government is also to distribute tons of fertilizers and other farm inputs to 33,000 small scale farmers. According to her, the delay in distribution was caused by Ministry’s inconclusive elimination of fertilizer merchants and middlemen in the fertilizer distribution channels. “We’ve to identify genuine farmers with collaboration of their traditional leaders to check diversion of farm inputs,” she said. She assured that the state government will commence distribution of fertilizers to farmers by next week. She said that 33,000 small scale farmers have been registered for the distribution of fertilizers for this year’s cropping season. While speaking on fertilizers distribution, she said: “We’ve identified their locations in various communities, including their phone numbers and other verification exercise to distribute fertilizers and other farm inputs.” “We have screened them to be sure they are genuine and practicing farmers.” According to her, the screening exercise was to eliminate middle men in the distribution of fertilizer and other farm inputs. “We had to engage traditional rulers to prevent the diversion of fertilizers by merchants to make profits at expense of genuine farmers,” she Dr. Amshi She noted that civil servants who are also farmers have also been captured in this month’s fertilizer distribution. On civil servants’ engagement in farming, she said: “Yobe farmers in two categories, the small farmers and the civil servants. “Farmers’ categorization; was to know their farm location using a geo-enabling system “The Ministry of Agriculture discovered that most civil servants are into farming. Some have over 100 hectares of farmlands. She noted that it will be unjust for such farmers not to benefit because they are civil servants. “We treat every farmer during this year’s planting season,” she said, adding that most farmers are engaged in crop and livestock production, including forestry activities. The representative of AUN, Usman Sani Chiromari said that that UNHCR was to ensure and protect social and economic rights of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). According to him, distribution of farm inputs is to maximize opportunities of IDPs for self-reliance in communities. His words: “This project is promoting livelihoods and self-reliance through skill acquisitions and empowerment. “The startups are to prevent households and individuals from slipping into poverty and enable them support their communities.” He said the target of varsity, is the vulnerable IDPs, returnees and members of the host communities affected by Boko Haram insurgency. He said 450 beneficiaries will benefit from the program, while 50 of a batch of 100 were also selected for this event due to Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) guidelines on COVID-19.
