Logpobiri Anaiya
The Livelihoods and Nutrition Empowerment (LINE) projects is to spend $14,839,265 (N6.7 billion) to uplift the living standards of poor, rural farming families in Bauchi State.
The project which was jointly funded at 90 and 10 percent by Global Affairs Canada and Oxfam respectively was aimed at raising the living standards of 10,000 families through agriculture value chain.
Giving an overview of the LINE project at a five days’ workshop for Beneficiary Identification and Registration Training Agenda which began in Bauchi yesterday, OXFAM Associate Country Director, Evelyn Mere said that the organisation is committed to the upliftment of the lives of poor people especially women who are affected more by poverty.
She added that the LINE project will strengthen the socio- economic wellbeing of the rural poor in many ways as OXFAM is working in many areas including gender issues, economic inequalities and other salient issues affecting the weak and vulnerable.
On his part, the LINE project coordinator, Austine Terngu noted that the project is being carried out in selected local government areas across Bauchi State and has selected families that will benefit from the project.
According to him, the LINE project will last for 60 months and will improve the livelihoods of 10,000 rural farmer households through increased productivity, enhanced market access, better nutrition and an enabling agricultural business environment.
He said that the targeted beneficiaries will comprise of 60 percent women, 40 percent men, 20 percent youth, 10 percent pastoralists and 10 percent nutrition beneficiaries.
The selected value chain for the programme include increased production of crops like Sorghum, Sesame and Maize as well as Livestock to produce Dairy, Beef, Mutton and Chevon.
In his address, the Bauchi State commissioner of Agriculture and natural resources, Alhaji Yakubu Kirfi said that the state government is committed to partnership with development partners to move the state forward.
He emphasised that Agriculture is one of the cardinal point of the present state government for the provision of job opportunities, more income and ensuring food security in the state.
Declaring the ceremony open, permanent secretary, Ministry of Budget and Planning, Alhaji Yakubu Adamu said that the state government had through the ministry been involved in the project since inception.
He said that the LINE project is in line with the federal and Bauchi State government\’s aim to develop agriculture from the grassroot to ensure food security.
He however advise that the monitoring and evaluation mechanism of the project should be strengthened to assess its impact on the selected families and the state.
