……Gombe Deputy Gov harps need for political will in region
No fewer than 770,000 individuals especially farmers in the North-East region have been lifted from poverty through Agriculture financing and support under the Rural Resilience Activity.
Speaking on Tuesday in Gombe during its partnership day, themed, ‘Fostering Economic Resilience in the Northeast: A Path to Sustainable Growth’, Mercy Corps Chief of Party, Feed the Future Nigeria Rural Resilience Activity, John Rachkara, said its has built the capacity of small-scale farmers, and businesses, increased access to finance and quality inputs, strengthened market linkages.
Rachkara disclosed that the Rural Resilience Activity has facilitated over $97 million from private sector players as investments and trade within the agriculture value chains of North-East
He said, “North-East Nigeria holds an untapped potential, which, when effectively harnessed, can be a catalyst for regional and national development. As you know, this region is experiencing a number of challenges, from the human and economic costs of the insurgency to climate change-related disasters, which have increased the vulnerabilities of the population.
“USAID knows that by addressing these challenges and harnessing its potential, North-East Nigeria can unlock its full economic prospects and become more resilient.
“To this end, USAID in 2019, awarded a five-year Rural Resilience Activity to Mercy Corps and consortium partners, aimed at partnering with businesses, farmers, and public institutions to sustainably move people out of vulnerability and poverty through expanded economic opportunities.”
Rachkara added that aside the 770 individuals about 20,000 have got relevant jobs, saying “The Rural Resilience Activity has facilitated over $97 million from private sector players as investments and trade within the agriculture value chains of Northeast Nigeria, positively impacting more than 770,000 individuals. This was achieved by building the capacity of small-scale farmers, and businesses, increasing access to finance and quality inputs, strengthening market linkages, and promoting the adoption of climate smart practices. As a direct result of this activity, several farmers have doubled their productivity and tripled their household income. Supported firms have created over 20,000 jobs right here in the North-East.”
On his part, Deputy Governor of Gombe State Dr Manassah Jatau, who declared the event open, noted that for very unclear reasons, the zone has been experiencing the activities of insurgents that have been in operation over the years since 2009, till date.
He said, “No doubt this has affected negatively the social, economic, political, educational, and even infrastructural growth of the zone. Poverty level worsen, unemployment became the order of the day and even acquisition of basic skills to support livelihood could not thrive.”
The Deputy Governor added that the predicament faced by the region may be hinged on the absence of political will adding, “The challenge open to us (we in the North East) now is to have a very great political will to welcome, accommodate, learn, understand, support/partner and act together with Mercy Corps et al to overcome our present situation. This we must do for the reality based on my experience that in due course we usually witness donor fatigue, donor doubts, donor denial and donor stoppage. Therein lies the compelling need to ‘make hay while the sun shines’. With the determination of the governors of the Sub-region, the future is bright, promising and attainable.”
