FG distributes agricultural Inputs to farmers affected by Flood
By Abdullahi Alhassan.
Kebbi State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, who is also the Vice-Chairman of the National Food Security Council (NFSC), says no fewer than 382,208 farmers affected by flood in 2020, across Nigeria will get free farm inputs provided by the Federal Government.
Bagudu disclosed this in Birnin Kebbi at the National flag-off of the distribution of the free farm inputs.
The Governor, who is also the Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum, enumerated the items to include assorted seeds, seedlings, pumping machines, agrochemicals, sprayers, and other related inputs. Bagudu said those engaged in livestock production will benefit from the invaluable gesture of the Federal Government through NEMA
According to Bagudu, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had already registered all of the beneficiaries with the help of other collaborating partners. He explained:” For the first time, President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the Chairman of the Council has approved the provision of insurance covers to the beneficiaries.”
“All the beneficiaries who henceforth be insured, hence, they don’t need future support in case of any flood eventualities .”
The Governor further underscored the importance of the insurance covers as they will help to reduce the burden.
Bagudu also disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari has mandated the Federal Ministries of Transport, Water Resources, and Environment to come up with a National Drainage Architecture on the control of flooding to prevent a threat to food security.
While praising Buhari for his extraordinary gesture, Bagudu reaffirmed the council’s commitment to continue to support farmers and other agro-allied and food-processing businesses.
Doing so, the Kebbi State Governor noted was to further bolster food security in the country as being championed by Buhari.
Governor Bagudu, who is also the Vice-Chairman of the National Food Security Council and the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Rice and Wheat Production in Nigeria, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari, the Federal Government, Ministers, NEMA, SEMA, and NGOs for their efforts in assisting flood victims.
He also commended the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA for being at the forefront in disaster management and mitigation.
Hajiya Saadiya Umar Faruk, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, also spoke at the event, saying that it is a historic occasion that marks the start of yet another major landmark effort by the Federal Government to help people affected by the 2020 flood disaster. She added:” Today’s event is a culmination of a follow-up commitment to the initial emergency relief items distributed to the affected persons in the aftermath of the 2020 floods”.
This intervention was approved to provide emergency agricultural inputs, specifically to help farmers who lost crops as a result of the flood disaster, which destroyed their farmlands and cut off access to croplands.
“The unfortunate flood incident resulted in the displacement of several communities, damage to infrastructure, destruction of croplands, and widespread environmental dislocation”.
The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, in response to the incidence, activated the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to conduct a detailed assessment of the situations and make a recommendation for intervention.
“The successful implementation of this intervention is therefore very important in assisting farmers with modern farm inputs and seeds that will support their speedy recovery from the disaster impact,” the Minister, added.
Governor Bagudu was praised by the Director-General of NEMA, Alhaji Mustapha Habib Ahmed, in his closing remarks for embarking on the agricultural transformation that facilitated the state’s and Nigeria’s food self-sufficiency.
He appreciated the doggedness and unflinching commitment of Mr. President for placing priority and supporting small-scale farmers.
“These are real farmers that toil come rain, come shine to feed the nation, safeguard our national food security and our pride as a people. Also “Nigerians are now proud to eat the produce of the Nigerian farmer. Beyond saving foreign exchange for Nigeria, farming is now an illustrious profession, thanks to Mr. President,” he said.
He described President Muhammadu Buhari’s Green Revolution as the catalyst that allowed Nigeria to stop importing food, save foreign exchange, and force its citizens to eat what Nigerian farmers produce. Beneficiaries of farm inputs, according to the NEMA DG, should use them sparingly.
Farida Shehu, one of the female beneficiaries, expressed gratitude to the federal government for assisting them, assuring that the inputs would be used wisely.