By Heman Gabriel Zakaria
The Agricultural sector development is considered to hold the key to economic development for most Sub-Saharan countries including Nigeria (Olukunle, 2013). This is because it has the ability of changing the dynamics and contribute immensely to the growth and development of this African Economies as it provides food for sustenance, nutrition and raw materials to the non-agricultural industries of the economy, it provides employment opportunities to a vast majority of unemployed labor most especially in rural communities and avails a means by which valuable foreign exchange can be earned through the export of agricultural products.
However, in recent times agriculture has suffered a huge setback as a result of insecurity in Nigeria. The impact of the crisis is multidimensional among which is food, shelter, livelihoods, health, security and education. Extremely high price of foods and its limited availability has been the major challenge to food security since the start of insurgency. Insecurity at the markets, the inability of farmers to cultivate their farm lands and high cost of transportation to affected areas are some factors that account for high prices of foods and its limited availability. OCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 2017) report identifies about 5.1 million people are food insecure.
Homes were destroyed as several villages were burnt down and livelihoods destroyed due to inability of farmers to cultivate their lands and livestock stolen. This has led to increase in poverty rate in the northeast from 47.3 per cent in 2011, to 50.4 percent in 2013 (World Bank, 2015).
Methodology
The intervention initiated an extension program subsequent to field survey of the current situation of displaced farmers in selected IDP Camps around Maiduguri Borno State. This was followed by an intervention in backyard farming with focus on crops like:
Yam, Sweet potato, Tomato, Onion, and Cucumber.
Major Actors
Heman Gabriel Zakaria; (Researcher and Initiator)
Dr, Osuntade Olubukola; (Supervisor)
Research, Innovation And International Cooperation (RIIC) Babcock University; (Funder)
Consultation and partnership with stakeholders of host community (FADAMA III, Borno state coordination office and Borno State Agricultural Development Programme BOSADP),
IDP camp Management; (for Permission)
Internal Displaced Persons (IDPs) of Maiduguri Borno State.
Accomplishments
- Reviving of agricultural activities among displaced persons,
- The intervention brought about the first introduction of yam faming to Borno State,
- The intervention brought about the first introduction of long cucumber which is different from their short ones, which they know and are used to,
- Sense of responsibility and ownership of the project by IDPs
- This intervention project directly engaged 80 IDPs and indirectly engaged over 200 IDPs,
The intervention was successfully carried out in six (6) IDP Camps namely: (Dusman Amarmati IDP Camp, Muna Albadania IDP Camp, Muna Ashari IDP Camp, Gongulong Almaskin IDP Camp, Shuwari Diyari IDP Camp and Bulanulin / Alhajiri IDP Camp).
Outcomes
- All year-round agriculture,
- Education and further enlightenment of IDPs to new methods of farming and agricultural practices,
- Enhance physical and mental health of IDPs
- Improved food security level,
- Reduced food malnutrition, Etc.
Conclusion
This extension programme has the ability of not just only improving the standard of leaving of the internally displaced persons in Maiduguri Borno State, but can also be used with more available funds as a panacea to achieving food security among displaced persons, households, rural communities, sub-urban communities in Nigeria and beyond.
Upon further expansion, partnership and adoption of this intervention, each displaced family will be able to produce at least 50% of what they can eat and eventually be able to produce excess to sell and make income.
References:
FAO (2017) Northeastern Nigeria: Situation Report- January 2017. Online: http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/FAO countries/Nigeria/ToR/FAO_Situation_Report_Northeastern_Nigeria_January_2017.pdf (Last accessed: 31/03/2020).
Ferdinand C. Kenneth D.S. and Narasimha R.V. (2020). Voice of farmers in the agriculture crisis in North-East Nigeria: International Journal of Development Issue, 2020
IPC. (2022). North East Nigeria Acute Malnutrition Analysis
Martin-Shields, C. and Stojetz, W. (2019) ‘Food security and conflict: Empirical challenges and future opportunities for research and policy making on food security and conflict’, World Development, (119), pp.150-164.
