Abuja – Mr Goni Ahmed, the Director-General, National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), says the European Union funded Action Against Desertification (AAD) in Nigeria will promote grazing.
This is contained in a statement signed by Mrs Larai Daze, the Head, Press and Public Relations of the agency, and issued to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.
The statement said Ahmed made the remark at a capacity assessment workshop on action to fight desertification in Sokoto State.
It quoted Ahmed as saying that the action was a framework for rural development.
According to him, the Great Green Wall programme is also designed to improve sustainability, integration and adaptability of dryland agricultural practices to enhance crop production, livestock and fisheries.
Ahmed said the action would also promote commercialisation and marketing of agricultural products to enhance accessibility of farmers.
“AAD will encourage pastoralists and other land users for agricultural inputs, increase security and accessibility to basic resources by affected people, especially women among others.
“NAGGW approach to rural development includes provision of opportunities to the grassroots to participate fully in the development programmes and involving the beneficiaries in the development process,’’ he said.
The D-G applauded the FAO for its concern for the programme in Nigeria.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the European Union (EU), African, Caribbean, Pacific (ACP) states and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) inaugurated a 41 million euros Action Against Desertification in Africa.
The AAD is aimed at addressing land degradation and desertification in the Sahara region, boost food security and support communities to adapt to climate change.
It is being implemented in Nigeria to cover Sokoto basin, Chad basin in Jeke community of Jigawa and Maluri community in Bauchi State.
It is also aimed at combating desertification in six African countries, Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Gambia, and Ethiopia.
The action is also supported by the African Union Commission, FAO and the Global mechanism of the UNCCD (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification). (NAN)
