As part of its campaign to restore the livelihoods of vulnerable citizens affected by the insurgency in the North East, the Victim Support Fund (VSF) has distributed livestock and cash support package to selected farmers in Geidam Local Government Area of Yobe state. The intervention has delivered 800 animals to 200 households selected from Hausari, Ashekari, Koloro and Geidam Communities. While launching the distribution in Geidam town, the Executive Director of VSF, Prof. Sunday Ochoche described it as a continuation of the 2017 Agro Support Programme to farmers in the Northeast, targeting affected households. He disclosed that the intervention was conceived to support the livelihoods of vulnerable persons in affected communities and to ensure long-term food security in the region.
The Agro support program kicked off earlier in Gulani and Gujba Local Government Areas with 2000 households receiving agricultural inputs. Prof. Ochoche said that VSF was impressed with the results of the programme and had been encouraged to expand it including an intervention in dry season farming and the inclusion of more beneficiaries in terms of input and cash support. According to Prof. Ochoche, each household will receive four goats, three female goats and one male goat as well as N20,000 as an initial grant to subsidize animal care.
He expressed appreciation to the Yobe state government for its partnership and pledged that the VSF would remain a steadfast partner in the rebuilding process. The PCNI Chairman Lt. Gen. TY Danjuma, who was represented by Alkasim Abdulkadir encouraged the people to live in peace with one another and assured them that the reconstruction of the region would continue until the full restoration of its social fabric and the recovery of the local economy to achieve unprecedented productivity. The Yobe state governor, Ibrahim Gaidam represented by the State Commissioner of Education, Mohammed Lamin thanked VSF for the livestock intervention noting its timeliness and its positive impact on the livelihoods of the target beneficiaries.
