FAO moves to support farmers in North East Nigeria with $20 million

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), has said about $20 million is required urgently by June, 2017, to support farmers for new farming season in the north east region of Nigeria.

The Agency stated this in a report on the region released by FAO National Communications Officer, Emeka Anuforo in Abuja on Thursday.

In the report, FAO noted that about 1.5 million people may face acute food Security in  Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, adding that deliberate efforts should be made towards raising  the sum , otherwise the implication might continue to worsen until 2018.

According to the report “In 2017, FAO is asking for USD 62 million under the Humanitarian Response Plan for Nigeria. Of this, USD 20 million is urgently required to reach 1.9 million people during the upcoming main planting season starting in June 2017. Missing this season will mean food insecurity and, therefore, humanitarian costs will continue rising into 2018″.

“FAO’s dry season campaign is ongoing, with 174 400 people receiving vegetable seed, irrigation equipment and livestock support. A combination of food assistance and food production support is the only way to address the scale of hunger facing the people of northeastern Nigeria.”It added

The report revealed that in 2016, FAO received about $7.2 million to fund the northeastern part of the country from Belgium, the European Commission Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), FAO internal resources, Irish Aid, Japan, United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), UN Women, and World Food Programme (Food for Peace).

“Agriculture-based livelihood interventions remain weakly funded. Missing the main planting season will force many IDPs, returnees and vulnerable host communities to rely on expensive and logistically challenging food assistance well into 2018″.

“This will have a broad negative impact – rising hunger, lack of economic and employment opportunities, and possible harmful consequences including youth radicalisation and enrolment in armed groups, and increased exposure to sexual abuse and exploitation.” it explained.