Over 200,000 Small Holder farmers and women are targeted, to benefit from a joint initiative by the United Nations World Food Program (WFP), MasterCard Foundation, and the African Development Bank (AfDB), project.
The initiative was announced by WFP Country Representative Mr. David Stevenson during a groundbreaking ceremony in Mamudo town, Potiskum Local Government Area of Yobe State, to commission an alternative energy solutions to power irrigation farming systems, aimed at fostering sustainable youth employment in horticulture.
Mr. Stevenson said the project seeks to revolutionize food production in the region through innovative agricultural practices that enhance productivity and ensure environmental sustainability.
He explained that the three partners are visited Kano, Jigawa, Yobe, and now Borno States, along Ngala Local Government Area and the shores of Lake Chad, to identify further opportunities for co-investors and partnerships with government and the private sector. Their goal is to create a new approach to humanitarian solutions across the region.
African Development Bank Director General Mr. Abdul Kamar stated that the partners will visit other Northern States to offer permanent solutions to challenges in irrigation farming.
He noted that the AfDB has invested approximately $134 million in wheat farming alone across the Northern states, targeting around 300,000 hectares for wheat cultivation.
Mr. Kamar added that the collaborators have engaged with market women to develop comprehensive solutions addressing the entire food system, extending beyond vegetables and maize.
MasterCard Foundation Country Director Ms. Rosy Fynn emphasized the importance of strategic partnerships in unlocking economic opportunities for youth through sustainable agriculture.
Farmers Yusuf Salisu and Musa Abdullahi, interviewed at the ceremony, expressed their gratitude to WFP, AfDB, and MasterCard Foundation for the initiative, highlighting the positive impact it will have on their farming activities.
The farmers also praised the introduction of the alternative energy source, anticipating reduced costs and increased productivity.
The Mamudo Horticulture Hub is expected to serve as a model for other regions, demonstrating the potential of renewable energy-powered irrigation in boosting agricultural output and fostering inclusive economic growth.
