The Adamawa State Government has raised concern over the worsening crisis of malnutrition and poverty across the state, blaming the situation on the lingering effects of conflict and climate vulnerability that continue to strain local livelihoods.

Dr. Bayeso Ibrahim, Acting Director of Agricultural Services at the State Ministry of Agriculture, disclosed this to journalists in Tashan Turmi during a dry-season farming input intervention programme organised by the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) for women in displaced communities.

Dr. Ibrahim described the economic distress as acute and alarming.

“We have a challenge that has to do with malnutrition and livelihood because when we look at the multidimensional poverty rate in this region, it’s second only to the North-West,” he said.

He explained that the root causes of the crisis include the cumulative effects of insurgency, recurring communal conflicts, and the impact of climate change — such as floods, droughts, and dry spells — which continue to undermine farm productivity.

According to him, the region’s heavy dependence on rain-fed agriculture is no longer sustainable under the prevailing environmental conditions.

He commended the JRS intervention, funded by Caritas Canada, describing it as a vital effort to strengthen local coping mechanisms.

The project, which trained 300 female farmers in dry-season cultivation and water management, aims to improve the production of essential crops — particularly vegetables — after the main harvest season.

Dr. Ibrahim said the initiative would help ease livelihood pressures by increasing family incomes and improving access to nutritious, readily available food.

Speaking further, Innocent Emmanuel, Project Director of JRS Adamawa, said the initiative was designed as a direct response to the humanitarian challenges arising from the prolonged crisis in the North-East.

He explained that empowering women, who often bear the greatest burden of supporting households, remains central to the programme’s goals.

Some beneficiaries, including Rebecca Danjuma and Amina Sa’ad, said they had been trained by JRS on dry-season farming and had successfully applied the techniques, leading to improved yields and better livelihoods.

“JRS is not only supplying inputs but also training farmers in seed multiplication and modern farming methods to ensure the long-term sustainability and spread of improved seed varieties across communities,” Dr. Ibrahim added. (Daily Trust)