From Okwe Obi, Abuja
In order to give them a new lease of life, the Federal Government has donated inputs, stipends to 300 internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
This is even as the Plateau State Government through the Gbom Gowm Jos, provided 150 hectares of farmland to IDPs for an initial 5 years period.
The government, through the Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Aliyu Tijani Ahmed, explained yesterday at Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, that the initiative was done in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security a PS Agro Masters and traditional rulers.
Ahmed said the government would provide security for the farmers through the services of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Agro Rangers.
He said the first phase of the scheme would be carried out in Nasarawa, Plateau and Yobe States, respectively, and would be expanded to other states with a significant IDPs population.
Represented by the NCFRMI Director, Internally Displaced Persons, Fatima Mamman Daura, he said: “We are here in Bassa Local Government to launch the second phase of the Renewed Hope Project for Internally Displaced Persons.
“This is a collaborative programme among the National Commission for Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, PS Agro Masters and traditional rulers.
“So, we are partnering with communities where we have significant IDPs population. The first phase was launched in Nasarawa State. We are here in Plateau State launching the second phase.
“What we are doing is that the Gbom Gowm Jos donated farmlands for a certain number of years to the host communities.
“The NCFRMI and Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security provided the inputs to cultivate the lands. Of course, the NCFRMI profiled the IDPs with cash grants.
“The private sector provides the off takers who will now sell the produce after harvesting grains and put money in the hands of IDPs and contribute to food security. We are hoping to restore livelihoods through agriculture.
“This will take place in the next 5 years. But we will work on it and see how things go. For Plateaue States, we have 300 each, in the first phase, because it is a new project.
“We are targeting 3 States: Nasarawa, Plateau and Yobe. We will expand it to to other states where we have significant IDPs population.
“We are supporting the labour cost inform of a cash stipend, monitoring and evaluation. It depends on the hectares of land. We give them rice, beans, maize wheat and sorghum.
On safety, she said: “We are partnering with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Agro rangers were we feel there is security issues for them to provide cover. Also, there is a community based intervention. So, the community will also protect the IDPs farmers.
“We have 100 hectares and another 50 in another location in Plateau State.”
Governor Caleb Muftwang, represented by the Executive Director of Plateau State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Sunday Abdu, said the programme would enable the farmers adopt mechanised farming as against subsistent farming.
He said: “The essence of this programme is to deviate from the farming we are used to, which is always meant to feed our family and that is it.
“This programme is geared towards empowering our people to shift from subsistent farming to commercial farming, where men and women of Plateau State will be willing to cultivate crops.
“The governor is concerned that so many of our children are out of school because of this kind of displacement. And the people are not enjoying themselves because they are sitting in communities that are not theirs and, therefore, denied of their social life and responsibilities.”