No fewer than 1,700 People Living with Disabilities (PLWDs) and other less privileged have been empowered by the Nigeria CARES (COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus) with agricultural inputs and agricultural processing equipment in Niger State.
While flagging off the distribution in New Bussa in Borgu Local Government Area, the Niger State Governor Alhaji Abubakar Sani-Bello said the distribution is to support the livelihoods of the poor and vulnerable families in the state. He added that it would facilitate the recovery of local economic activities in all participating states across Nigeria.
“The agricultural livelihoods and food security support under the N-CARES is structured to include investments and policy measures to mitigate the impacts on agricultural livelihoods, enhance the resilience of our farmers to return to their farms, and facilitate faster recovery to lay a solid foundation for agriculture value chains to create jobs.
“The overall target of this initiative is to increase food security and sustain safe-functioning of food supply chains,” he said.
The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Yusuf Mohammed Gunu stated that out of the 1,500 beneficiaries, 747 will receive agricultural inputs under the value chains of rice, maize, sorghum, broiler and aquaculture while 753 will receive agricultural assets and small primary processing equipment.
He urged the beneficiaries to utilise the assets provided effectively. He said they will be monitored at the community and state levels by facilitators and desk officers, the state Fadama N-CARES office, among others. and the World Bank.
The Niger State Fadama N-CARES Project Coordinator, Dr Hassan Garba said Nigeria CARES Result Area 2 intervention in the state is in four Disbursement Link Indicators (DLIs) which include the provision of agricultural inputs and services, provision of improved agricultural infrastructure, provision of agricultural assets and small primary processing and wet markets with water and sanitary services.
He added that the goal of the Nigeria CARES programme is to increase food security and the safe-functioning of good supply chains.
One of the beneficiaries, Yohanna Juta Matambo from Agwara Local Government Area said the farm inputs he received would boost his farm products.