Taraba Records 68% Climate Resilience Project Implementation

Taraba State has recorded improvement in the implementation of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project, earning national recognition at the project’s Pre -Mid Term Review (PMTR).

The state scored 68 per cent in the overall project implementation at the PMTR held in Abuja, the Nation’s capital, thereby placing Taraba above other six beneficiary states in the North.

The development is above the previous ratings of below 50% project implementation.

Speaking on the development, while reviewing its last year’s activities, the State Project Coordinator, Dr. Yakubu Giwa, said the improvement followed renewed commitment and strategic interventions since he assumed the office.

ACReSAL is a World Bank assisted programme being implemented in 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, with access to additional funding tied strictly to performance.

“We inherited the project when it was moving at a very slow pace. Today, Taraba is no longer where it used to be. We have made measurable progress,” Giwa said.

He said, the agency as part of its intervention, has awarded contracts for the Boboji Water Storm Control Project in Jalingo, covering about 1.3 kilometres.

“The project is aimed at reclaiming degraded land and controlling erosion and other related challenges.”

According to Giwa, the project will include bioengineering measures such as the planting of agricultural and economic trees along riverbanks to stabilise the soil and mitigate climate change impacts in the state

He added that, the agency has commenced plans for the construction of feeder roads around the Boboji axis and along the Larmude River Bank to ease the movement of farm produce to markets by farmers.

ACReSAL began operations in Taraba with four pilot local government areas: Jalingo, Takum, Wukari, and Zing, covering 16 communities through the Community Revolving Fund (CRF) scheme.

“The project is now set to expand to 10 additional catchment areas, with seven already under design to extend interventions to more local government areas across the state.

“In Takum Local Government Area, ACReSAL has signed contracts in Lebam for flood control, while intervention projects have also been executed in Wukari and other catchment areas across the state.”

Giwa said all projects are cleared for execution in line with World Bank environmental and social safeguard standards, adding that affected persons would be adequately compensated.

“We have Replacement Action Plans to ensure nobody is cheated or neglected. Compensation are paid to all affected persons,” he said.

He mentioned that, economic trees have been planted in about “94 hectares in the Yakoko Forest Reserve in Zing local government. About 1,000 hectares of degraded land have also been reclaimed in Namnai and Gari Baka, while 200 hectares have been earmarked for similar projects in Gassol local government area.”

He further said that, Garba Chelle is the agency’s largest plantation reserve, covering about 4,000 hectares, saying that, plans are underway to expand tree plantations to 10,000 hectares, with special focus on palm oil and cocoa plantations in Kurmi local government area of the state.

Giwa, then attributed the improved performance to the support of Governor Agbu Kefas’ administration, who is ever ready to provide counterpart funding and an enabling environment for project execution.