Mastercard, WFP, AfDB provide solar plant to boost irrigation in Yobe
By Muhammad Maitela, Damaturu
The United Nations World Food Program (WFP), in partnership with African Development Bank (AfDB) and Mastercard Foundation, has provided solar plants to boost irrigation and other agricultural activities in Mamudo, Potiskum local government area of Yobe state.
The Syndicate reports that the project is aimed at enhancing food insecurity and creating employment for young people.
The Director General of AfDB in Nigeria, Mr. Abdul Kamar, said the the project is to deliver humanitarian solutions to the ongoing conflict in the northern region.
He said this would be done through public private partnership to fast track the rebuilding of the region’s food systems, and restore agriculture.
He said, “We are visiting four states—Kano, Jigawa, Yobe, and Borno—to assess our investments and develop a partnership approach with the African Development Bank, WFP, and Mastercard Foundation to create permanent solutions.
“We’ve seen the vegetable production here in Mamudo, with solar-powered irrigation, and this facility will be replicated. We’re doing much more.
“For wheat farming alone, the value chain investment is $134 million across northern states.
“In Jigawa, we visited sites with the State Governor and the Minister of Agriculture, and the target for all states is around 300,000 hectares, which will significantly address national wheat self-sufficiency.”
On his part, the UN-WFP Country Director, Mr. David Stevenson, said, the solar power plant is part of the solution to the food security challenges in the region.
He said the UN-WFP, African Development Bank and the Mastercard Foundation are working together collectively across northern Nigeria.
He said, “This is unique—the three of us coming together across this region—and it shows that we want to do things differently. We want to be more effective in production, led by the people of Nigeria, particularly the youth and women.
“I’ve been impressed by the engagement of young farmers and women-led enterprises we’ve met here.”
