For farmers in Katsina, the next flood or drought should not automatically mean another lost harvest.
The Katsina State Government has launched a $1 million food security programme designed to help vulnerable farming communities withstand recurring floods, droughts and other climate-related shocks.
The 12-month initiative, titled “Protecting Food Security Against Recurring Floods and Drought,” will initially target farmers and households in Bindawa, Bakori and Kafur Local Government Areas.
It is being coordinated through the Katsina State Development Management Board (KTDMB) and the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, with development-partner support and implementation by Mercy Corps Nigeria.
Radda: Climate Change Can No Longer Be Ignored
Launching the programme in Katsina, Governor Dikko Umaru Radda described climate change as an unavoidable reality requiring practical and coordinated action.
For a largely agrarian state where many households depend on farming and livestock, he said protecting land and water resources is directly connected to food production, household incomes and economic stability.
Radda urged stakeholders to focus on interventions that help communities produce more while protecting the natural resources on which agriculture depends.
He also pledged continued support from the state government and called on the three beneficiary local governments to cooperate fully with project implementers.
The governor directed the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and KTDMB to strengthen coordination among government agencies and development partners involved in the programme.
More importantly, he asked the Ministry of Environment and the Department of Climate Change to examine whether similar interventions could eventually be expanded across the state.
The long-term ambition is clear: take climate-resilience support beyond the first three local governments and eventually reach every LGA in Katsina.
What the $1m Programme Will Actually Do
The initiative is designed to tackle several problems that can compound the effects of extreme weather.
These include:
- Recurring floods and droughts
- Soil erosion
- Poor drainage and water management
- Inadequate food storage
- Post-harvest losses
- Poverty and fragile livelihoods
Rather than waiting for disasters to happen, Mercy Corps says the programme will use a prevention-first strategy.
That means protecting productive farmland, restoring damaged land, improving water systems and helping communities prepare before climate shocks strike.
150 Farms to Receive Flood-Control Measures
One of the programme’s major components will focus directly on farmland.
Project officials said 150 selected farms will receive measures including soil bunds, contour barriers and drainage systems to reduce erosion and manage excess water.
The project will also restore degraded land through vegetation.
About 180 people will participate in this restoration work through a cash-for-work programme, with the necessary restoration tools provided.
The approach is intended to deliver two benefits at once: improve environmental resilience while providing short-term income opportunities for participating households.
Solar Water Systems and Better Food Storage
Water access is another major part of the intervention.
At least 12 solar-powered water systems will be rehabilitated to support farming and livestock communities, particularly during dry periods.
The programme will also train local water committees and technicians so communities can better manage and maintain the systems after rehabilitation.
Food storage will receive similar attention.
The project plans to rehabilitate 150 food storage facilities and distribute 500 hermetic storage bags. Households will also receive training on improved storage techniques aimed at reducing post-harvest losses.
That matters because increasing agricultural production means little if a significant portion of the harvest is subsequently lost.
Women, Farmers and Vulnerable Households in Focus
The programme also has a livelihood component.
Farmers will receive training in climate-smart agricultural practices, while approximately 300 women will be supported to diversify their sources of income.
Communities will additionally receive training in:
- Hazard mapping
- Contingency planning
- Emergency preparedness
- Climate-risk management
Priority beneficiaries include smallholder farmers, households dependent on grazing land, women and female-headed households, families with young children, youths participating in cash-for-work activities, persons with disabilities and other highly vulnerable households.
Project Will Run for 12 Months
According to KTDMB Executive Secretary Dr Mustapha Shehu, the $1 million programme will run for one year.
Baseline assessments are already being conducted in the three beneficiary LGAs to establish the starting conditions and generate data that could help determine whether the project should be expanded.
Implementation will move through several stages:
- Assessment and procurement
- Construction and land restoration
- Community and technical training
- Strengthening of local committees
- Inspection and handover
- Project close-out
The Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning will coordinate the intervention alongside relevant government ministries, including Agriculture, Livestock Development, Youth, Women Affairs, and Security and Home Affairs.
Government Calls for Strong Grassroots Monitoring
Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning Malik Anas described the programme as timely, particularly given the growing threat that climate shocks pose to vulnerable communities.
He urged government agencies to participate actively in implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
Anas also stressed the importance of grassroots oversight, calling on project personnel and stakeholders to maintain a strong presence in the beneficiary communities and properly document activities and results.
Commissioner for Livestock Development Prof. Ahmed Mohammed Bakori also welcomed the intervention, while Katsina Local Government Chairman Isah Miqdad Sa’ude thanked the state government, KTDMB and Mercy Corps for selecting the three local governments.
A Test Case for Climate-Resilient Food Security
Katsina’s new programme is more than a response to individual floods or dry seasons.
It is an attempt to change how vulnerable communities prepare for them.
If the planned farm protection, water rehabilitation, land restoration, storage improvements and livelihood support deliver the intended results, the programme could provide a model for expanding climate-resilience measures across the state.
The immediate target is three local governments. The bigger goal is a Katsina where a failed rainy season—or an unexpected flood—does not automatically become a food-security crisis.
