Maize Farmers Association of Nigeria (MAAN) has called on the federal and State Governments to declare a state of emergency in the Agric sector to confront the consequences this year’s flooding might have caused to Nigerians.
National President of the Association Alhaji Bello Abubakar Annur, made the call during a press briefing in Abuja.
Alh Bello Annur explained that the call became imperative given the devastating flooding experienced during this year’s rainy season and the damages that impacted lives and food items with Billions of naira.
The National President stressed that an investigation conducted by MAAN had indicated that coupled with the high price of fertilizer and the effect of flooding in many states of the federation, Nigeria would lose about 30% of maize in its annual production capacity.
He said to this effect, the Association was able to visit Taraba, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi, Jigawa and Kano states to assess the level of damages caused on farmland to find a way of collaborating with government at all levels to support the victims.
Alh Bello Annur, who was impressed that President Buhari had directed the Ministry of Agriculture to commence arrangements towards assisting farmers affected by this year’s flood, called on the minister of Agriculture to use the appropriate channel to reach the actual victims.
On the role of state governors towards supporting farmers affected by the flood, the National President confirmed that to this effect only Borno and Yobe state governors indicated interest to intervene and appealed to others to follow suit.
He further advised the federal government to as a matter of urgency procure adequate modern farming implements and distribute to farmers at subsidized rate especially those willing to embark on dry farming to bridge the gap created by flooding in food production.
The president however, reminded the flood victims to consider the situation as an act of God assuring that MAAN would not relent in it’s quest to see that affected farmers received necessary support from the relevant authorities.
COV /TSIBIRI