Food security: IFAD empowers farmers, rural communities in Sokoto

More than 2000 farmers,and other rural dwellers in Sokoto have been empowered under the International Fund for Agricultural Development’s IFAD- Climate Change Adaptation and

Agribusiness Support Program (CASP) in the state.

The gesture was in line with IFAD’s efforts to provide support to people especially in the rural areas, the state program coordinator Dr. Aminu Aliyu Dogon Daji disclosed.

He said 800 hands pumps were distributed to farmers, 1,078 tube wells, 17 hand driven boreholes and 27 livestock water drinking points were constructed while 15 solar-powered boreholes were rehabilitated.

Dogon Daji said inaddition, five roads were constructed and four motorised canoes were provided.

Speaking when the 4th FG/IFAD Supervision Mission Team visited Sokoto on an assessment visit, the coordinator said the multi-million naira projects executed had direct impact on the rural dwellers.

“All the projects are geared towards enhancing production and food security in Sokoto state and Nigeria as a whole, as well as increase the level of income so as to reduce poverty and ensure the provision of basic necessary amenities to people among rural communities,” he said.

He added that the N-Agripreneurs beneficiaries were trained on various trade such as grain milling, threshing and animal traction and that they were given support to start their businesses.

Dogon Daji said community development associations were also given funds ranging from N3million to N9 million to execute some projects within their communities.

The team leader Prof. Jone Lenchi acknowledged efforts of IFAD towards empowering the rural communities.