Benue, NFSP/SCRIH partner on peace-building, food security

From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi

The Nigeria Food Security Project (NFSP) and Supply Chain Research and Innovation Hub (SCRIH), under the SPRiNG Project, have met with stakeholders in Benue State on plans to embark on a pilot project that targets peace building to enhance food security and climate resilience in the state.

The pilot project, titled “Enhancing Food Security and Peace Building in Nigeria through Strategic Planning in Benue and Plateau States”, is a three-month pilot that will be carried out in three Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Agatu, Logo and Gwer-West of Benue State.

Speaking to newsmen after an MoU review briefing with ministries, agencies, departments, academia and a stakeholders’ consultative workshop in Makurdi, the Project Coordinator, NFSP, Dr Shalem Shiekuma, said the workshop focused on the reviewed Memorandum of Understanding, highlighting programme objectives among other key issues.

Shiekuma said the project is targeting peace building through strategic planning and focuses on food security in Benue State.

While noting that security challenges in Benue State have resulted in food crises and food security challenges, he said: “The project intends to develop a strategic food security plan for the state in line with promoting resilience and building communities that have been affected.

“But our key objective or aim on this project is to develop a strategic food security plan that will be adopted by the Benue State Government and applied to other peace and resilience initiatives. So, it’s a pilot phase.”

At the meeting, the MoU was reviewed, while concerns bordering on logistics, funding by governments, programme objectives and administration were raised.

Shiekuma said they are “testing the waters”, trying to identify the key issues at the pilot phase, explaining that the funding is not going to come from the government. He said the project is a SPRiNG Project funded by the government of the United Kingdom.

Earlier, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Benjamin Ashaver, stated that the workshop required the engagement and input of stakeholders so as to get the desired results, even as he urged participants to put in their best for the overall good of the state.

Discussions also centred on concluding a formal agreement with the state government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, relevant agencies and stakeholders, on the State Strategic Food Security Plan, to explore opportunities to collaborate along the food security, climate resilience and peace-building nexus.

Some of the collaborative efforts would include to: “Cooperatively support the development and validation of State Strategic Food Security Plans for Benue State through inclusive, multi-stakeholder processes; cooperatively support the implementation of pilot community interventions focused on resource governance, market systems and inclusive livelihoods, specifically targeting Agatu, Logo and Gwer-West LGAs.

“Study the core drivers of food insecurity and conflict (Conflict and Food Security Audit) in the state and project opportunities for integrated peace-building and agricultural development, and conduct a joint analysis of the target LGAs and constituent communities for pilot interventions based on conflict incidence, agro-ecology and institutional willingness,” among other plans.