Katsina State Government has launched a $1 million intervention to protect farming communities from the effects of recurring floods and drought, with measures targeting farm losses, water shortages, land degradation and post-harvest losses.
The 12-month project, titled ‘Protecting Food Security Against Recurring Floods and Drought’, is being implemented by Mercy Corps Nigeria with support from the Katsina State Development Management Board (KTDMB), Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and development partners.
Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, who unveiled the intervention in Katsina, said protecting agricultural production had become increasingly important as climate-related shocks continue to threaten the livelihoods of farming communities.
Radda said Katsina’s dependence on agriculture made the protection of land and water resources critical to sustaining livelihoods and strengthening food security.
He directed the Ministry of Environment and the Department of Climate Change to assess the intervention and explore ways of extending similar climate-resilience measures to other local government areas.
“Climate change is a reality. We have no way to hide from it, and we must confront it with all the capacity and ability so that together we can fight it. Our aim is for every local government in the state to benefit from this laudable initiative,” he said.
The governor assured development partners of the state government’s continued support and urged the three beneficiary local governments to work closely with the implementing organisations.
According to Mercy Corps Nigeria Programme Manager, Philip Ikita, the project will use a prevention-first approach to reduce the impact of climate shocks on vulnerable communities.
He said the intervention would protect agricultural assets, restore degraded land, improve water management, strengthen food storage systems and equip communities to prepare for climate-related emergencies.
Ikita said soil bunds, contour barriers and drainage systems would be constructed on 150 selected farms, while degraded land would be restored through vegetation.
He added that 180 workers would be engaged through a cash-for-work arrangement, with restoration tools provided under the programme.
At least 12 solar-powered water systems would also be rehabilitated to support farming and livestock communities, particularly during the dry season.
To tackle post-harvest losses, Ikita said 150 food storage facilities would be rehabilitated, while 500 hermetic bags would be distributed and households trained in improved storage practices.
The project will also train farmers in climate-smart agriculture, support livelihood diversification for about 300 women and strengthen community capacity in hazard mapping, contingency planning and preparedness for changing weather conditions.
Priority beneficiaries include smallholder farmers, households dependent on grazing land, women and women-headed households, vulnerable families with young children, youths engaged in cash-for-work activities, persons with disabilities and other highly vulnerable households.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of KTDMB, Dr Mustapha Shehu, said the project would initially cover Bindawa, Bakori and Kafur Local Government Areas.
He said the three LGAs were selected based on available data and identified vulnerabilities, adding that baseline assessments were already underway to establish benchmarks for measuring the project’s impact and determine prospects for expansion.
Shehu said the Ministries of Agriculture, Livestock Development, Youth, Women Affairs, and Security and Home Affairs, among others, would participate in the implementation.
The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Malik Anas, commended Mercy Corps Nigeria and KTDMB for the intervention, describing it as timely in strengthening the resilience of vulnerable communities.
He urged relevant ministries, departments and agencies to participate actively in implementation, monitoring and evaluation, while calling for effective grassroots monitoring and proper reporting of activities and outcomes.
