In response to the insecurity situation in the Northeast region of Nigeria, where approximately 1.9 million people have reportedly been displaced and the inability of the Internally Displaced Persons, IDP camp to establish self-sustaining livelihoods, the International Institute of Intertropical Agriculture (IITA) together with the Japanese government have launched a new project to support self-reliance and provide employment opportunities for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the region. The recent economic challenges have worsened the already precarious living conditions in their camps. These difficulties not only affect their lives but also have repercussions on agriculture. The rise in living expenses has increased labour and agricultural input costs. Consequently, obtaining the necessary manpower and agricultural resources has become difficult, with a negative impact on agriculture, which plays a crucial role in Nigeria’s economy, significantly increasing the risk of a food crisis.
IITA project leader Haruki Ishikawa said, “We have over 50 years of experience working in agriculture, developing improved varieties, improving seed production systems, and developing the capacity of small-scale farmers. We believe all of these components can be used to provide emergency assistance to IDPs.” He stated that the project aims to support employment opportunities for IDPs, providing agricultural assistance to increase food production and household nutrition. The project has established a labour dispatch union to send IDPs as temporary workers to farmers facing labour shortages. This activity will provide income sources to IDPs through agricultural work and support their meals during dispatch. Mr. Ishikawa added that the project provides seeds and fertilisers for IDPs who borrow farmland to cultivate for themselves and assists struggling farmers by providing free temporary labour and agricultural inputs—improved seed varieties and fertilisers, enhancing crop productivity.
“One of the major constraints farmers face is the lack of improved varieties’ seeds. The provision of quality seeds to farmers can improve yields significantly, and it is a key component of IDPs who want to go back to the farm, too,” said IITA-Kano System Agronomist Alpha Kamara. In this project, IITA donates certified maize, cowpea, and yam seeds to promote IDPs who were previously farmers. These IDPs have borrowed the farmland around Abuja and re-started farming. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Kazuyoshi Matsunaga, said: “I am delighted that Japan’s support for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Nigeria, in partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), focuses on sustainable solutions rather than merely providing humanitarian aid. This project demonstrates the importance of empowering individuals to improve their lives by promoting self-reliance and addressing food shortages. As a research institute, IITA’s commitment to solving social issues is commendable, and this initiative serves as a great example of the saying: “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime,” he added.
The IDP-support project using agriculture could contribute to employment and increased agricultural production. The project will also encourage IDPs to become self-reliant and return to agriculture, helping to rebuild the country’s agricultural sector.
