BUA Cement Plc has distributed agricultural inputs to about 300 farmers from resettled communities in Wamakko Local Government Area of Sokoto State to support dry-season farming and restore livelihoods.
The intervention forms part of the company’s Sustainable Livelihood Restoration Programme designed to assist farmers affected by the expansion of its operations in the area.
Speaking during the distribution exercise, the Chairman of Wamakko Local Government, Umar Mohammed, commended the company for supporting farmers in the host communities and urged beneficiaries to make effective use of the inputs to improve productivity and boost food production.
Managing Director of BUA Cement, Yusuf Binji, represented by the Director of Corporate Affairs Services, Sada Sulaiman, said the beneficiaries were farmers whose farmlands were affected by the company’s operational expansion.
He explained that the programme was designed to help the affected farmers sustain their farming activities and improve their yields.
Also speaking, the Assistant Director of Health, Community Safety and Environment at BUA Cement, Ali Gumel, said the distribution marked the commencement of the agricultural support component of the livelihood restoration initiative.
Gumel noted that although replacement farmlands had been provided for the displaced farmers, the company decided to supply additional farming inputs to enhance their productivity.
According to him, the programme will be implemented in two batches, with 150 farmers receiving the inputs in the first phase and another 150 expected to benefit in the second phase.
He added that the farmers had earlier undergone classroom and field training to improve their agricultural skills ahead of the distribution of the inputs.
BUA Cement also disclosed plans to extend the livelihood restoration initiative to other members of the affected communities through entrepreneurship training, skills acquisition and livestock support programmes.
