By Linus Ogbu, Lafia
The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) is set to develop Inclusive Landscape Management Plan (ILMP) for Doma – Rutu socio – ecological landscape to ensure resources sustainability and food security in Nasarawa State.
A Consultant with IWMI, Prof. Henry Igbadun, said this at a stakeholders’ meeting on development of Inclusive Landscape Management Plan (ILMP) for Doma – Rutu socio -ecological landscape in Lafia.
According to him, IWMI is addressing issue of transforming agricultural and food systems of West and Central African countries through inclusive landscape management planning.
He listed the countries IWMI is working on the project which include: Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Burundi, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo.
Igbadun said IWMI had selected the Doma – Rutu socio – ecological landscape all the way stretched from Doma irrigation scheme up to Rutu that borders Mada River for landscape management plan in Nasarawa state.
“We are looking at all the water systems of that landscape vis – a vis water use for agriculture; fishery, livestock and all other activities including social activities going on there.
“The whole interest is how do we maintain this landscape, natural resources to increase food production. How do we maintain the use of this landscape so that we can continue to produce food and sustained ecosystem.
“What we come to do in summary, is to work together with the community, plan how the natural resources the land, the water and the entire ecosystem can continually be used so as to guarantee food security, ” he said.
Prof. Igbadun said the Institute was committed to the responsibility of capacity building of community members especially the youths, men and women such that the landscape could be sustained.
“This whole thing is co – design, co – planning with the community, together with the community identify the problem, plan together with all the stakeholders including the Ministries, departments and agencies of government to have a framework that everybody will be involved.
“It is about coming out with particular framework, a document that shares ideas of the problem on ground, how to address them, who will take responsibility over what, what does what, what it take to do such, and timeline that needed to address all of these,” he said.
Also speaking, the permanent Secretaries in the Ministries of Agriculture, Isah -Mohammed Eyah, represented by Director of Administration and Supply, Mr Julius Kigbu and that of Environment, Garba Mohammed represented by Director of Climate Change, Mr Angbashim Ishaku both promised to support the initiative.
On their parts, Emmanuel Alanana, Programme Manager, Nasarawa State Agricultural Programme and Ahmed Sarki, Chairman, Doma LGA, represented by Patu Musa Zaidu, Director of Personnel Management both commended the Institute and assured of their readiness to support the project.
The stakeholders meeting had in attendance the representatives of government officials from the ministries of Agriculture and Environment, Doma local government officials, youths, women and community opinions leaders.
