Yobe State and FAO-UN Partner to Launch Floodwater Harvesting Project
In a groundbreaking move, the Yobe State Government has partnered with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO-UN) to launch a floodwater harvesting project, aimed at tackling recurrent flooding and boosting sustainable agriculture.
Yobe State has suffered devastating floods from 2022 to 2024, which have displaced communities, destroyed farmlands, and worsened food insecurity. In response, Governor Mai Mala Buni is spearheading a proactive approach to flood management, focusing on early warning systems, community sensitization, and innovative floodwater utilization.
During an inception meeting held on Monday, Goje Mohammed, Director General of Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), met with the FAO-UN team, led by Al Hassan Cisse, to discuss the pilot phase of the initiative.
According to Goje, the project will convert floodwaters into a resource for dry-season farming, with initial pilot sites in Nangere and Karasuwa (Gasma).
“This initiative represents a paradigm shift in disaster management, moving from reactive responses to sustainable floodwater utilization,” he stated.
The collaboration between Yobe State and FAO-UN marks a significant step towards building climate resilience, ensuring that affected communities can harness floodwaters for agricultural productivity instead of suffering losses.
As Yobe State and FAO-UN embark on this pioneering journey, they are setting the stage for a more sustainable and food-secure future.
