Jutha Gupah, Maiduguri
September 28, 2022.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Assistant Director General and Representative Regional Office for Africa, Haile Gabriel-Abebe has said that the agriculture livelihood projects are to raise household farmers’ resilience and incomes in Borno state.
According to him, the projects comprise integrated agriculture and vegetable production, fish processing and briquettes centres and the farm field school; sited in Gongulong community
Gabriel-Abebe disclosed this yesterday (Wednesday), in Gongulong while assessing the running and sustenance of five projects to restore the livelihoods of small-holder farmers.
He said that the agricultural projects have not only supported the farmers and their families, but the entire Community.
Besides, he added that the livelihood projects have also met the basic needs of life, as well as educating the community.
“When agricultural projects are being invested with other partners, poverty and unemployment could be reduced,” he noted.
Continued; “What we have heard from the Community today was that the livelihood restoration projects are changing the lives of many people,” stating that this is in spite of the over a decade conflict in the state.
On the Community agricultural field school project, he said that the farmers have overcome the challenges of the parasitic weed call striga gesnevioides.
He said the women have addressed it by planting improved varieties of cowpeas with high yields to women farmers
Responding, Bukar Suguli, a fish pond and vegetable farmer told the FAO boss that he is happy with the fish pond business.
“I’m prepared to teach others on how to set up and sustain the business of fish and vegetable production to earn more income,” adding that the business has restored the livelihoods of the entire community.
