The Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, Alhaji Mohammed Hardi Tufeeiru, has stated that government plans to support smallholder farmers in climate-resilient agriculture through various initiatives and policies.
According to him, the government is thinking about fostering collaborations with international aid organizations and donor groups to train and assist smallholder farmers in climate-smart agricultural practices, particularly in the areas of farmer-led irrigation development schemes, water management, crop diversification for high-yielding varieties, and pest control.
He explained that out of the 1.9 million hectares of irrigation potential in the country, 224,000 hectares are under informal, small-scale irrigation systems used by roughly half a million smallholder farmers nationwide, which is why more support is needed. Irrigation has been identified as one of the solutions to promoting climate resilience in agriculture.
The move is aimed at improving food security, enhancing the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
The Deputy Minister made a suggestion that the government may also think about offering smallholder farmers financial assistance and incentives to adopt climate-smart farming practices and buy climate-resilient farming inputs.
In addition, Planting for Food and Job (PFJ) investment efforts for the construction of rural infrastructure, such as roads, silos, and warehouse storage facilities, will continue. Smallholder farmers will be able to access markets and have fewer post-harvest losses as a result.
