The 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.
The National Programme Coordinator, FGN/IFAD Value Chain Development Programme, VCDP-VC, Dr Fatima K. Aliyu made the disclosure during the flag-off ceremony on Flood Recovery Input Distribution in Bida, Edati, Katcha, Mokwa and Borgu local government areas of the state.
She explained that supporting them will go a long way in alleviating the adverse effects of the floods and assisting farmers to recover from their losses and restore their livelihoods.
According to her, due to the effects of floods suffered by farmers in 2022, the VCDP reallocated the sum of N252m to provide agro inputs and equipment to those affected to carry out dry season farming and additional N467,880m to further support them in the nine participating states.
Aliyu stated: “A total of 1,495 farmers will be supported across the nine participating states. This is in addition to the regular VCDP support given to farmers a few weeks ago for the 2022 dry season farming.”
The states include Anambra, Benue, Ebonyi, Enugu, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun and Taraba.
Earlier, the Niger State Programme Coordinator, Dr Matthew Ahmed said 236 farmers across five LGAs which include Bida, Katcha, Mokwa, Edati and Borgu will be given the farm inputs and equipment to help mitigate their sufferings as a result of losses due to flood in the state.
He told the farmers: “It is a quick response to support them in view of the losses they suffered as a result of flood by VCDP. These items will be distributed to farmers and are not for sale. Put them to good use to multiply your harvest to ensure a better condition of living for you and your families. Don’t use your gains to marry more wives or engage in any act that could lead to problems in your lives.”
Also, representatives of Bida and Katcha LGAs, Dr Mohammed Baiwa and Alh. Adamu Kpotun, respectively in their separate remarks thanked VCDP for the gesture, adding that the organization has continued to identify with rice farmers and their needs in Niger State.
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 to ameliorate the sufferings caused by flood in the state.
Each of the 236 rice farmers is 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.
