AUN, FAO Donate Seed Crops, Fertilizer to 3,000 Adamawa Farmers

Between July 2 and 5, AUN facilitated the distribution of improved, high yielding seeds with fertilizer donated by the Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) to 3,000 farmers in eight communities in Mubi South and Mubi North Local Government Areas of Adamawa State.

The beneficiaries each received a 10kg bag of maize, a 10kg bag of cowpea and 25kg bag of fertilizer. The farm inputs were part of the 2018 rainy season intervention program organized by the Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) to cushion the destructive effects of Boko Haram on communities and livelihoods.

Since 2017, AUN with the UN agency has been empowering the communities who are mainly Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), returnees, and survivors of the Boko Haram menace.

The 3,000 farmers were pooled from Vimtim, Muchalla, Betso, and Mayo Bani (Mubi North) and Dirbishi, Gude, Mugulvu, and Nasarawo (Mubi South).

The AUN Project Coordinator of Mubi North, Mr. Abubakar Mustapha, said the farmers were selected and adequately trained by Mubi North and Mubi South agricultural extension workers. He further stated that a strict process was followed to ensure that only eligible and trained farmers received the inputs.

His counterpart in Mubi South, Mr. Umar Mallum, advised those that were not selected during this farming season to be patient until the dry season intervention program.

Adamu Hamidu, a father of five who fled to Cameroon during the insurgency, said he left everything behind. “Since I returned to my community Mugulvu, this is the first time I am receiving such; I am happy because I know that very soon I will have so much food for my family.”  

Holga Zephaniah from Mayo Bani said, “This is a great relief; I have a farm but not much seed to plant. With this, my stress is relieved.”

She thanked FAO for initiating and making the seeds and fertilizer available and AUN for implementing the project.

A traditional leader in one of the benefitting communities, Mr. Ardo Musa Mugulvu, called on all beneficiaries to plant the seeds and apply the fertilizer as instructed. He warned against selling the inputs as it will defeat the aim. He added, “Since the Boko Haram insurgency, things have not been the same again. Our community is a place of refuge for many IDPs, but we are struggling to survive as food is not sufficient.” He thanked FAO, AUN, the government and other foreign agencies for always coming to their aid.

AUN’s Director of Financial Operations, Ibrahim Damare, who was impressed by the turnout at the event and the orderliness of the distribution process, said, “I am happy seeing the beneficiaries receiving the farming inputs with minimal stress.”

Reported by Noel Sashi