COVID-19: 50,000 farmers, others to benefit World Bank recovery stimulus in Kano

By Muhammad Muhammad

About 50,000 farmers and other vulnerable groups are to benefit from the World Bank assisted Covid-19 stimulus intervention in Kano.

Solacebase reports that the intervention, under the platform of “Nigeria Covid-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus” (NG_Cares Project), is designed to rehabilitate and assist victims of the 2020 global pandemic in the country.

The US$750 million project that cut across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), is attracting US$20 million for the vulnerable targets in Kano and would run for the next two years.

Speaking at the flag off of a two day capacity building for facilitators and farmers on Saturday, Kano State coordinator of the project, Alhaji Muktar Ado Yakassai said the project is being implemented by the Federal government in collaboration with Kano government to reduce the impact of Covid-19 pandemic.

Yakassai explained that out of the three segments of the interventions, covering unconditional cash transfer, farmers stimulus and SME supports; Kano focus on strengthening capacity of farmers especially those that suffered huge lose during the pandemic.

Besides, the coordinator stressed the intervention will equally extend to rehabilitation of feeder roads across the farming communities to enable easy assess of farm produces and repair of major canal channels at 6 irrigation sites in the state.

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He said the two days training for the facilitators and farmers was to create awareness on the project and broaden the minds of the beneficiaries on intervention.

According to Yakassai, “Kano state government has chosen the second segment of the project which focuses more on agriculture and other vulnerable groups. For instance, this segment will provide farming supplement and inputs to farmers.

“Resources like fertilizer, improved seedlings, insecticide and other supplies that will enhance high yields. Also, incorporated are provision of agricultural assets including pumping machines, threshers, tractors and other technologies that will help prepare the farm land”.

The project female gender care officer, Aisha Lami Mohammad explained that about 40 percent target goes to women groups. Aisha emphasized that women who suffered most during be pandemic were selected across the 44 local government areas of the state are selected to benefit.