Katsina Governor launches project to address food security and climate risks
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Katsina State Governor Dikko Umaru Radda began a $1 million project in Nigeria to help farming communities withstand floods and drought.
The 12-month intervention, titled ‘Protecting Food Security Against Recurring Floods and Drought’, will be carried out by Mercy Corps Nigeria with support from the Katsina State Development Management Board and other partners. Governor Radda explained that because Katsina is largely an agricultural state, protecting land and water resources is essential for the livelihoods of its people.
He directed state officials to consider expanding similar climate resilience efforts to other local government areas. Mercy Corps Nigeria plans to focus on preventing damage by protecting farmland, restoring land quality, improving water management, and upgrading food storage. The project will construct soil and water management systems on 150 farms, rehabilitate degraded land with new plants, and repair 12 solar-powered water systems.
It will also rehabilitate 150 storage facilities and distribute 500 hermetic bags to help reduce food waste after harvest. The initiative will initially serve the Bindawa, Bakori, and Kafur local government areas, prioritizing smallholder farmers, women, and vulnerable households. Workers will be hired through a cash-for-work program, and farmers will receive training in climate-smart agricultural techniques. Officials will measure the project's success using baseline data collected before implementation.
