No fewer than 300 farmers from host communities around BUA Cement operations in Wamakko Local Government Area of Sokoto State have begun receiving agricultural inputs under the company’s Sustainable Livelihood Restoration Programme.
The initiative, aimed at supporting farmers displaced by the company’s expansion activities, is expected to benefit about 1,500 people across the affected communities.
Speaking during the distribution exercise on Thursday, the Chairman of Wamakko Local Government, Umar Mohammed, commended BUA Cement for its continued support to farmers. He urged beneficiaries to make effective use of the inputs to achieve the programme’s objectives of improving agricultural productivity and livelihoods, adding that the intervention would enhance farming activities and boost food production in the local government.
Yusuf Binji, Managing Director of BUA Cement, represented by the Director of Corporate Affairs Services, Sada Sulaiman, said the programme primarily targets farmers affected by the company’s land expansion. “These items are being given to farmers who were displaced as a result of the company’s expansion. The goal is to support them to continue their farming activities and improve their productivity,” he said.
Also speaking, the Assistant Director, Health, Community Safety and Environment at BUA Cement, Ali Gumel, noted that the distribution marked the commencement of the agricultural support component of the Sustainable Livelihood Restoration Programme. He said many farmers had lost their farmlands due to the company’s operations and that the programme is designed to restore their farming capacity.
“Even though replacement farmlands were provided, we are also supporting them with inputs to improve the quality of their farming and help them achieve better yields,” Gumel added.
The current distribution targets 300 farmers in two batches of 150 each, with the first batch receiving their inputs on Thursday. Gumel also disclosed that prior to the distribution, several classroom and field trainings were conducted to enhance the farmers’ agricultural skills.
He further explained that the agricultural support programme is one of several livelihood initiatives planned for displaced residents. BUA Cement intends to introduce entrepreneurship training, skills acquisition programmes, and livestock farming support for community members not involved in crop farming.
Implemented in collaboration with agricultural development partners, the programme is expected to strengthen farming capacity and improve the livelihoods of displaced farmers in the host communities.
