The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and Africa Youth Growth Foundation (AYGF) have started giving wheat to over 68,000 families in Katsina State who are struggling with food.
This project helps five areas in Katsina because many people there do not have enough food due to violence and bandit attacks.
The wheat project began in Kurfi, helping families in Kurfi, Batsari, Dutsin-ma, Safana, and Danmusa.
Dr. Hakeem Ajibola from UN WFP said the goal is to help people in Katsina, Zamfara, and Sokoto States get food, especially during the 2024 lean season when food is really scarce.
Ajibola explained that the bandits in the North-West are attacking farmers and stealing their animals, which makes growing food very hard. “These bandits are destroying farms and stealing cattle and sheep, leaving people without enough food,” Ajibola said.
Because of this, food prices have gone up, making it even harder for people to buy food.
Sharing Wheat with Families
Dr. Arome Salifu, the head of AYGF, said they have been helping in Katsina for over three years in different areas. “Each family will get three and a half measurements of wheat,” he said.
He also said all families, no matter their size, will get the same amount of wheat to make sure everyone gets help.
The wheat, given by Ukraine, is for the poorest people who live in dangerous areas and need food the most.
This project wants to give 1,963 metric tons of wheat to 68,389 people who need it, like those who lost their homes, families led by women, people with disabilities, and young people in the affected areas.
Maryam Sodangi, who works with Governor Dikko Radda, praised the WFP and AYGF for their hard work. She said this wheat project will help reduce hunger in the state and supports the government’s plans to grow more food.
“This project will help reduce hunger and supports our plans to grow more food,” Sodangi said.
Also, Alhaji Hamza Abubakar-Duwan, representing the Emir of Katsina, thanked them for the support and asked families to use the wheat well to meet their food needs.
Important Points to Know
- A few months ago, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) got 25,000 tons of wheat from Ukraine through the “Grain from Ukraine” initiative, started by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to help 1.3 million people in northeast Nigeria who are in crisis to get emergency food.
- Food prices in Nigeria have gone up a lot, making it hard for many families to afford basic meals.
- Many countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Luxembourg, Norway, the Republic of Korea, and Sweden worked together to help with the transport and distribution costs to make sure the wheat reaches the affected families in Nigeria.