Launch of the project protecting food security against floods and drought

Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

It is a great pleasure and privilege to be here today for the official launch of this important project, “Protecting Food Security Against Recurring Floods & Drought.”

I am particularly pleased that this initiative is focused on an issue that is fundamental to the wellbeing and prosperity of our people: the ability of our communities to produce food, protect their livelihoods and withstand the increasing effects of climate-related shocks.

Climate Change Is Now a Development Reality

Ladies and gentlemen,

Climate change is no longer an issue that belongs only in international conferences and policy documents. Our communities are experiencing it. Our farmers are experiencing it. Our families are experiencing it.

We are witnessing changing rainfall patterns, prolonged dry periods, intense rainfall and flooding, and increasing pressure on agricultural livelihoods. For a State like Katsina, where agriculture remains central to the livelihoods of a significant proportion of our population, these challenges have direct implications for food security, household income, employment, poverty and community stability. When a farmer loses his or her harvest to drought or flood, the consequence goes beyond the farm.

It affects the household.

It affects food prices.

It affects children's welfare.

It affects local businesses.

And ultimately, it affects the development of the State.

That is why this project is timely and important.

From Disaster Response to Resilience

One of the most important things this project represents is a change in approach.

For too long, our response to climate-related disasters has often been largely reactive—we respond after the flood, after the crop failure or after livelihoods have already been damaged.

We must increasingly move towards preparedness, prevention and resilience.

Our objective should be to build communities that can say:

“We know the risks; we are prepared for them; and we have the capacity to recover when they occur.”

This is what resilience means.

It means helping our communities protect their productive assets, adopt appropriate agricultural practices, manage water and land more effectively, prepare for climate shocks and protect the food systems upon which they depend.

Focus on Communities

I am particularly pleased that this intervention is targeting Bakori, Bindawa and Kafur Local Government Areas. These communities among other LGAs, have different local realities, but they share the vulnerability of agricultural livelihoods to climatic shocks. The project therefore provides an opportunity to demonstrate what can be achieved when Government, development partners and communities work together around practical solutions. But let me emphasise something: The communities must not be treated merely as beneficiaries. They must be partners in this intervention.

Their knowledge, experience and understanding of their environment are extremely valuable. The sustainability of this project will depend on whether the people themselves understand, own and ultimately sustain the interventions being introduced.

Food Security Is More Than Food Production

Ladies and gentlemen, when we talk about food security, we must think beyond simply producing more crops. Food security also means protecting the ability of households to continue producing and accessing food when conditions become difficult. It involves

• Resilient agricultural practices;
• Responsible management of natural resources;
• Access to water;
• Protection of productive assets;
• Diversified livelihoods;
• Appropriate climate information;
• Stronger community preparedness;
• Access to markets; and
• The capacity to recover from shocks.

This is why the project is important. It brings together the broader concept of resilient communities, secure food systems and sustainable livelihoods.

Government–Development Partner Partnership

On behalf of the Government and people of Katsina State, I wish to sincerely appreciate Later-Day Saint Charities for providing the funding support for this intervention and Mercy Corps for serving as the implementing organisation.

Your partnership demonstrates an important principle: Government does not have to do everything alone. Our responsibility is to provide leadership, policy direction and an enabling environment, while our development partners bring additional resources, expertise, innovation and experience.

But partnership must go beyond implementing individual projects. Our objective should be to build systems and capacities that remain useful to Katsina State long after the project period has ended.

I therefore charge all relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Katsina State Government to provide the necessary cooperation and support for the successful implementation of this intervention. The Katsina State Development Management Board and the Ministry of Budget and Planning, working with the relevant institutions, should ensure that this initiative is properly aligned with the State's broader development priorities. We must also ensure that lessons from this intervention are documented. If an approach works in Bakori, Bindawa or Kafur, we should ask ourselves: Can it be scaled to other vulnerable communities across Katsina State? That is how a project becomes a development model.

Accountability and Results

I also wish to make clear that Government expects results and accountability.

We must be able to demonstrate: total number of communities reached; the households supported; the livelihoods protected; the agricultural practices improved; the risks reduced; the resilience created; and the lessons generated. We must not measure success simply by the number of activities conducted. Success is the difference those activities make in people's lives. A farmer whose livelihood survives a climate shock is a result. A community better prepared for flooding is a result. A household that remains food secure despite a difficult season is a result. A livelihood that becomes more sustainable is a result. That is the standard we should pursue.

Looking Beyond the Project

Distinguished guests, our vision for Katsina is of a State where our communities are productive, resilient and capable of confronting emerging challenges. We therefore welcome interventions that complement the State's own efforts in: food security, climate action, sustainable livelihoods, water security, environmental management and community resilience. But our ultimate ambition must be bigger than individual projects. We must build a resilient Katsina.

A Katsina where farmers have the knowledge and tools to adapt. A Katsina where communities are prepared for floods and drought. A Katsina where young people can find sustainable livelihoods. A Katsina where women are active participants in economic development. And a Katsina where climate resilience becomes an integral part of development planning.

Conclusion and Official Launch

Ladies and gentlemen, today's event represents more than the commencement of another development intervention. It represents our collective commitment to protecting the livelihoods of our people and strengthening the resilience of our communities. I therefore commend Later-Day Saint Charities, Mercy Corps, the Katsina State Development Management Board, the Ministry of Budget and Planning, the participating Local Government Areas, traditional institutions, community leaders and all stakeholders for coming together around this important initiative. Let us work together to ensure that the project delivers meaningful and sustainable results. Let us ensure that its benefits reach the people for whom it was designed.

And let us ensure that the lessons learned become part of our broader strategy for building a food-secure, climate-resilient and economically stronger Katsina State. With these remarks, and with great confidence in the partnership and commitment of all stakeholders, I hereby officially launch the project on “Protecting Food Security Against Recurring Floods & Drought.”

May Allah bless our efforts, protect our communities, bless the harvests of our farmers and continue to guide us in building a more resilient and prosperous Katsina State.

Thank you.

Wassalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.