Kefas celebrates ACReSAL Day,
flags-off disbursement of $25,000 CRF, others in Taraba
OKERAFOR ATHANATIUS, JALINGO
Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas has celebrated the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Day in the State.
Gov Agbu Kefas
Kefas, during an event held Tuesday at the gym hall of the Jolly Nyame stadium Jalingo, also flagged-off the ACReSAL Community Resolving Fund (CRF),
distribution of climate-smart agricultural inputs, tractors, as well as the presentation of cheques to farmers of the benefitting communities in the State.
‘ACReSAL, our Correspondent gathered is a World Bank financed project designed to tackle the pressing issues of land degradation and climate change in 19 states of Northern Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Governor Kefas also presented about Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand US Dollars ($250,000.00) cheque, to about 15 communities of five local government areas of the State.
Speaking at the occasion, Kefas lauded the World Bank and the ACReSAL Project for their impact in the state and pledged to sustain the collaboration.
He disclosed that partnering with the World Bank has not only transformed the agricultural landscape of the State but has also set a benchmark for climate-smart and community-driven initiatives.
According to him, the partnership has raised world-class resources and expertise directly to farmers and communities, adding that his administration is committed to giving farmers opportunities to prosper.
While calling on all stakeholders, government agencies, development partners, private investors, and dedicated farmers to continue to champion the initiative by the World Bank, Kefas added that he is looking forward to deepening collaboration and will continue to scale up the project to transform the state into a model for sustainable agriculture.
In a remark, the Team Leader ACReSAL Project World Bank, Joy Iganya Agene, lauded the sportsmanship of Governor Kefas, saying his commitment to the project resulted to the graduation of ACReSAL from stage one to stage two in the State.
“Of a truth, Taraba State is faced with several challenges caused by climate change but ACReSAL is the bedrock of fighting those challenges, ACReSAL is well designed to handle all the shocks”,
While calling on the benefitting communities to judiciously use their resources to fight climate change, Agene added that the proceeds from the disbursement should be used for Climate smart activities.
“Use the resources as your power to fight the issues of climate change”, she said
In her address of welcome earlier, the Taraba State Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Aishat Barde said ACReSAL is offering the needed innovations to address environmental challenges arising from Climate Change.
Hon. Barde who lamented that Women and Youth are most vulnerable to the consequences of climate change due to social, economic, and institutional factors that limit their ability to adapt further advised the beneficiaries of the community revolving fund, climate Smart agricultural implements, and tractors to judiciously handle the equipments.
The National Project Coordinator, ACReSAL, Abdulhamid Umar, commended Governor Kefas for queueing into the project of ACReSAL.
He added that without the Governor’s commitment, the project wouldn’t have been implemented in the state.
