The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) on Tuesday distributed farm inputs to 200 farmers affected by flood disaster in Gombe State.
The Deputy Director, Horticulture Division in the ministry, Mr Lord Banjou stated this at the inputs distribution exercise in Gombe.
Represented by Mr Temile Happy, Chief Works Superintendent, FMARD Directorate Headquarters, Banjou said the gesture was aimed at helping farmers to mitigate losses suffered during the flood.
He said the government was concerned about the wellbeing of farmers across the country.
Banjou noted that the 2022 flood has been adjudged as the worst in the history of the nation, and accounted for soaring food prices in the markets and food shortages as well as caused malnutrition.
According to him, under the implementation strategy of this activity, the ministry in collaboration with Commodity Association as well as FMARD State Offices generated the list of the beneficiaries.
“In recognition and response to the plight of farmers, the ministry procured some critical inputs for distribution as quick intervention strategy to ameliorate the plight of farmers in flood affected states.
“This programme is being organised by the FMARD to mitigate the impact of flood menace in Nigeria, and improve the income and livelihood of farmers in the country.”
Also speaking, Dr Musa Inuwa, the State Director, FMARD, who was represented by Baba Gabriel, Assistant Director, Fishery at the Gombe State office, urged the beneficiaries to ensure effective utilisation of the inputs.
He said the programme was to mitigate the impact of flooding in the state.
“This will supplement the losses incurred through flood and it will bring another form of harvest so that there won’t be shortage of food.
“They should make sure the inputs given to them are well utilised,” he said.
On his part, Malam Usman Adamu, the Chairman, Hibiscus Farmers Association, Gombe State chapter, said the 2022 rainfall caused huge damage to the farmers, adding that they lost their farmlands and income to flooding.
Adamu said: “We are going to use it when the rain starts, you know it is dry season now. But it will go a long way in mitigating the losses incurred as a result of the 2022 flood.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that items distributed include 40 tomato starter packs, 40 onions starter packs, 20 pollination service equipment, 50 Hibiscus starter packs, and 50 Artemisia starter packs.
(NAN)
