International Alert, an NGO, has distributed improved high-yielding and climate-resilient seeds to 200 farmers in Kware Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The programme was in collaboration with Save The Child Initiative (STCI) and supported by Irish Aid.
While speaking during the distribution on Monday, the Project Officer, Mr Muhammad Garba, said the 200 farmers were selected from Mallamawa and Kabanga communities.
According to Garba, the seeds were suitable for climatic conditions in the state experiencing shorter rainfall along with other soul conditions.
The farmers, he said, needed more access to the seeds for enhanced production, to increase their yields and bolster their incomes.
He noted that climate change poses significant risks to food security by reducing crop yields and increasing food prices.
Climate change, he elaborated, had disrupted supply chains, particularly in vulnerable regions with limited adaptive capacity.
Garba stressed that managing climate risks in the agriculture sector through climate information and early warning services were important tools.
In his own remarks, the Secretary, Kware Local Government Areas, Alhaji Ayuba Hamma, commended the gesture, which he said, would boost food security.
Hamma said that small-holder farmers were primary and significant players in Nigeria’s agricultural space, with rain-fed being the predominant practice.
In his words: “But rain-fed agriculture is susceptible to elements of climate change, such as flood and drought, if no concrete action is taken to adapt to erratic weather conditions.”
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Alhaji Nasiru Yakubu, Sarkin Fulanin Kamunga, appreciated the support, noting that it would surely enhance food production.
He emphasized the importance of the seedlings that mature within two months, saying that they were suitable for the region’s climatic conditions. The improved seeds distributed included rice, millet, beans and sorghum.
