Hanny Henry
The Alimat Care Foundation (ACF) has urged sustained investment in climate-smart agriculture and community-led environmental action to address the growing effects of climate change.
Mr Ibrahim Bello, Executive Director ACF, made the call, at a knowledge management and project close-out workshop in Mubi South Local Government Area of Adamawa.
He said the workshop marked the completion of a 12-month pilot project funded by the United Nations Development Programme’s Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (UNDP-GEF SGP).
According to Bello, the project, titled “Indigenous Erosion Control Through Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices”, was implemented in Gella community, to tackle soil erosion using nature-based solutions.
He said the intervention introduced vetiver grass to stabilise erosion-prone areas and improve environmental resilience in the community.
Bello said the project also promoted dry-season farming through solar-powered irrigation systems to improve food production and livelihoods.
He said beneficiaries cultivated rice, wheat, cucumber and soybeans during the irrigation season using solar-powered water pumps provided under the project.
Bello said the foundation would continue supporting the community beyond the project period to sustain the knowledge and skills acquired by beneficiaries.
“The impact of the intervention cannot be fully realised within one year.
“We will continue working with the community to strengthen food security and support local climate action,” he said.
Also speaking, ACF Programme Lead, Ms Yanasim Dagal, said the project followed climate risk and needs assessments conducted with community members.
She said the assessments identified land degradation and soil erosion as major threats to agricultural productivity in Gella.
“Crop yields had declined significantly over the years, leaving many farmers with poor harvests despite cultivating their farms.
“However, restoring degraded land and improving soil conservation would enhance food production and strengthen community resilience.
Dagal called on governments, development partners and civil society organisations to invest more in climate-smart agriculture and community capacity building.
She also urged residents to abandon practices that worsen climate risks and environmental degradation.
A beneficiary, Mr Michael Vandi, thanked the foundation for equipping farmers with practical knowledge on erosion control and dry-season farming.
Vandi said participants learnt how to plant vetiver grass and cultivate wheat, rice and soybeans during the dry season.
Another beneficiary, Mrs Hauwa Haruna, said the project transformed her understanding of irrigation farming through solar-powered technology.
“Before now, I only knew solar panels were used on rooftops.
“I never imagined they could pump water for irrigation on farms,” she said.
