No fewer than 36,300 farmers in Gombe State have benefited from various interventions in the third phase of the GO-CARES programme by the FADAMA unit of the state Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry with improved agric inputs and assets.
Dr. Babayo Makka, the State Project Coordinator of FADAMA, stated this at the distribution of the items to benefiting farmers at the premises of the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry.
Dr. Makka appreciated Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for the prompt release of funds and creating an enabling environment for the project to thrive.
During the distribution, 31,000 out of the 36,300 farmers were supported with improved agricultural inputs of maize, agro-chemicals, fertilisers and poultry production including food assistance of rice and noodles to improve on their livelihood. While 2,800 poor and vulnerable farmers, including women and youths were supported with agricultural assets of water pumps, grinding machines and small ruminants to improve their capacity for food production and small scale primary processing, to mitigate food loss and waste.
The project coordinator said four culverts and eight earth dams were equally rehabilitated, where the remaining 2,500 farmers will directly benefit from the infrastructure.
The excited beneficiaries expressed appreciation and promised to make judicious use of what was given to them as a relief from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on their livelihoods.
The mandate of FADAMA also known as Result Area 2 in the GO-CARES programme, aims to support government interventions that mitigate the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on food security of the poor and vulnerable households and facilitate the safe functioning of food supply chains.
Recall that different sets of farmers across the state including women and youths benefited from the first and second phase of the programme, where they received agricultural inputs and assets. More farmers are expected to benefit from subsequent phases.
