The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has reassured farmers of deploying infrastructures and other climate smart agric technologies to reduce the effect of future floods in the country.
National Programme Coordinator, FGN/IFAD Value Chain Development Programme, VCDP-VC, Dr Fatima Aliyu stated this during the flag – off ceremony on Flood Recovery Input Distribution in Bida, Edati, Katcha , Mokwa and Borgu local government councils of Niger state.
Dr . Fatima Aliyu explained that supporting them will go a long way in alleviating the adverse effects of floods and assist farmers to recover from their losses and restore their livelihoods.
According to her, due the effects of floods suffered by farmers this year , the VCDP reallocated two hundred and fifty two million naira to provide agro inputs and equipment to those affected to carry out dry season farming , in addition to over four hundred and sixty seven million naira to further support them in the nine participating states.
Dr. Fatima Aliyu said a total of one thousand four hundred and ninety five farmers that will be supported across the nine participating states, in addition to the regular VCDP support given to farmers few weeks ago for the twenty twenty two dry season farming.
Among the benefiting states are Anambra, Benue, Ebonyi, Enugu, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun and Taraba.
In his remarks, Niger State Programme Coordinator, Dr. Matthew Ahmed said two hundred and thirty six farmers across five local government councils of Bida, Katcha, Mokwa, Edati and Borgu will be given the farm inputs and equipment to help mitigate their sufferings as a result of looses due flood in the state and warned that anyone found selling the inputs will be severely dealt with.
Responding on behalf of beneficiaries, Mrs Elizabeth Mamuna Yisa thanked VCDP for giving them the farm inputs and equipment, while promising that they will judiciously use them in order to ameliorate their sufferings caused by flood.
Each of the 236 rice farmers are expected to take home four bags of NPK and two bags of Urea fertilizers, 40kg of certified rice seeds, one litre of selective herbicide and one of non selective herbicide.
Aliyu Lawal
