FAO helps rural women restore lost herd in northeastern Nigeria

At 80 years old, Yazara Mataram has witnessed both seasons of abundance and of loss. 

As a mother of five and grandmother to 25, Yazara spent much of her life farming groundnuts and okra in her community in Gongulong, a prominent town within Jere Local Government Area in Borno State. Alongside farming, she raised goats, gradually building a small herd of fewer than 20 animals that supplemented her household income. 

That changed when conflict disrupted life in the region. 

Like many families affected by the insurgency, Yazara was forced to flee her home. Although she eventually returned to Gongulong, the livelihood she had spent years building was gone. 

"I lost everything," she recalled. 

For years, rebuilding her life was difficult. With limited resources and her advancing age, replacing the livestock she had lost seemed beyond reach. 

In 2024, help finally arrived thanks to FAO’s project “Food security and agriculture-based livelihood assistance to conflict-affected populations in Northeast Nigeria” funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. The intervention aimed at strengthening crisis-affected households’ food security and nutrition through resilient agriculture-based livelihoods. Under the emergency livestock restocking initiative, Yazara received a kit comprising three female goats and one male. 

What began with an initial four goats has since grown into a thriving herd as the animals reproduced over time, allowing Yazara to gradually rebuild her herd. She has been able to sell some of the goats’ offspring when household urgent needs arose while retaining others to sustain and grow the flock. 

The livestock has become a vital safety net, particularly during difficult times when food is scarce. As Yazara explains: "If there is a problem, we sell a goat and use the money to solve it." 

The income from livestock has allowed Yazara to keep her small groundnut trading business running until today. She purchases groundnuts, weighing approximately 10 to 15 kg, processes them and sells the product to generate additional income. 

Beyond supporting herself, Yuzara is now able to assist her children and grandchildren, many of whom attend school, remaining a pillar of support for her large family. For a woman who once lost everything, being able to provide for her family again has been deeply empowering, restoring her confidence and sense of independence. The goats themselves have become more than just animals – they represent security and resilience. Reflecting on the support she received, Yazara expressed her gratitude to FAO and Switzerland for helping her rebuild her livelihoods. 

Her story demonstrates how a relatively small investment in productive assets can help conflict-affected households regain their footing and become self-reliant.Yazara’s journey stands as a testament to the resilience of rural women in northeastern Nigeria and the transformative power of timely livelihood support.