Climate resilience: ACReSAL disburses $50,000 to 15 Taraba communities

The Agro- Climatic Resilience in Semi- Arid Landscape (ACReSAL), Taraba state, a World Bank technical support mission, on Tuesday presented $50,000 cheques to 15 communities of Jalingo Takum Wukari and Zing local government to boost climate resilience in Taraba state.

The World Bank team leader, Joy Iganya Agene and the National Project Coordinator, Umar Abdulhamid informed during the occasion in Jalingo that ACReSAL was in Taraba to tackle the shocks of environmental degradation that often affect food production.

They disclosed that Governor Agbu Kefas’ environmental policies to restore land productivity were designed in line with ACReSAL’s primary target of empowering communities and farmers to boost climate resilience.

Meanwhile, Governor Kefas assured the state government’s continued commitment to the success of ACReSAL.

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Kefas noted that the state government will ensure the timely release of counterpart funding to facilitate the smooth implementation of the project and maximise its impact in the state.

The governor expressed gratitude for the World Bank’s interventions, which, according to him, have continued to transform lives and build resilience in communities.

“I wish to extend my sincere gratitude to the World Bank team, led by Joy Iganya Agene and the National Project Coordinator, Umar Abdulhamid, for their unwavering support and commitment to ensuring the success of ACReSAL in Taraba State. We are deeply grateful for the World Bank’s interventions, which continue to transform lives and build resilience in our communities.

“The agricultural inputs, modern equipment, technical support, and access to finance, provided through the Community Revolving Fund (CRF), and the provision of tractors under this Project will significantly improve farmers’ productivity, increase crop yields, and enhance resilience to climate change.

“This initiative aligns perfectly with the Greening Taraba Initiative, which is a flagship program of my administration, aimed at restoring degraded lands, promoting sustainable agriculture, and ensuring food security. The impacts of climate change have posed serious challenges to food production, water availability, and environmental stability.

“Through ACReSAL, we are not only mitigating these impacts but also building a future where our farmers and communities can thrive despite environmental uncertainties,” Kefas noted.

The governor commended the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, as the supervising authority for the ACReSAL project, for its leadership and commitment to ensuring the success of the initiative. he appealed for sustainability as a guiding principle to implement the interventions.

Kefas also urged for continued collaboration between the Ministry of Water Management and Aquatic Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to enable ACReSAL to achieve more in the state.

Earlier, Taraba state Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Mrs. Aishat Barde, expressed that the administration of governor Agbu Kefas has created an enabling environment for initiatives like ACReSAL to flourish and positively transform landscapes and livelihoods.

The commissioner thanked the World Bank and the Federal Project Management team for their financial support, technical expertise, and investment in the future of the land.