The Federal Capital Territory FCT has reiterated its commitment to Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes, ACReSAL’s goals of reclaiming degraded lands and improving the livelihood of communities through best agricultural practices.
Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, Minister of State, FCT, disclosed this during the distribution of 10 tractors and 140 power tillers to Community Interest Groups (CIGs) in Kwali in Abuja under the Project Implementation Unit of ACReSAL, a World Bank-supported project, three utility vehicles, improved seeds, fertilizers, insecticides, and other agrochemicals were distributed.
The event also included inauguration of one of eight solar-powered boreholes at the Sheda Cassava Women Processing Centre in Kwali, as part of the project’s livelihood support initiative.
Mahmoud stated that the FCT has been grappling with the devastating consequences of large-scale land degradation for 48 years which resulted from rapid infrastructural development to substantial loss of its precious tree cover.
The minister expressed optimism that the ACReSAL project, with its land restoration initiatives, targets the reclamation of over 10,000 hectares of degraded land in the territory.
According to the Minister, the project aims to enhance community resilience against climate change and improve the livelihoods of communities in the 19 northern states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory.
“We are committed to providing all that is required through the relevant secretariat, departments, and agencies of the FCT Administration to ensure the success of this worthy initiative. Ultimately, our goal is to secure a brighter future for our citizens, where their livelihoods and well-being are protected and enhanced. We believe that ACReSAL is a critical step towards achieving this vision,” she said.
The minister noted that the agricultural sector, being the mainstay of the nation’s economy, has been affected by the devastating impacts of climate change which not only negatively impacts national food security but also jeopardizes the livelihoods of millions of people, exacerbating poverty and vulnerability.
She said the inputs were a strategic response to challenges faced by farmers, which include a lack of access to critical agricultural inputs and limited knowledge of sustainable landscape management practices.
“We hope that this support will build farmers’ resilience and their capacities to contribute meaningfully to food security and sustainable development in the FCT,” she stressed.
Mahmoud called on the Area Council Chairmen, who chairs the Local Government Implementation Committee of the ACReSAL project, to monitor the community utilization of the tractors and other machines to achieve the desired objectives.
In his remarks, Mr Lawan Geidam, Mandate Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, said that the ACReSAL project implementation unit had put necessary structures in place for the smooth implementation of the project.
Geidam explained that the three utility vehicles would be handed over to various institutions as part of ACReSAL’s institutional strengthening initiative.
“The goal is to enhance their capacities to serve communities better in activities that align with the project development objectives of ACReSAL.
“The eight solar-powered boreholes, constructed in eight communities, were to provide access to potable water for daily living and agricultural activities,” he said.
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