FAO DG arrives in Maiduguri to launch Lake Chad region development strategy

Mr José Graziano da Silva, Director-General, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), on Friday arrived in Maiduguri for the launch of a three-year response strategy for the renewal of Lake Chad region communities.

Da Silva, who arrived on a United Nations (UN) flight around 8.20 a. m., is expected to launch the strategy, which is aimed at boosting the food security and development of the Lake Chad region.

The visit is to increase the resilience of people in the areas, support and provide agriculture-based livelihoods to people of the region, who are hitherto facing humanitarian crisis.

The strategy, which would be implemented between 2017 and 2019, would also mitigate the impacts of conflicts on Lake Chad Basin communities, while boosting their resilience and food security.

Our correspondent reports that the region’s renewal project is geared toward supporting refugees, internally displaced families and their host communities, as part of the designed efforts to restore the agriculture-based livelihoods of the people.

It was also reported that since 2014, FAO has been establishing farms in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa to assist and support refugees, internally displaced families and farmers, so as to revive their livelihoods after the Boko Haram crisis.

Graziano was accompanied by Mr Bukar Tijani, FAO’s Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa.

Also on his entourage is Mr Dominique Burgeon, the Director, Emergencies and Rehabilitation Division, of the organisation.