NEMA empowers over 3,539 farmers in Ondo, Akwa Ibom, Delta

To cushion effects of flood disasters, restore household income and boost food production, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has distributed agricultural inputs to over 3,539 farmers in Ondo, Akwa Ibom and Delta states.
Particularly, 1,331 famers, who were affected by flood last year in Ondo State, were given inputs.

The Director-General of NEMA, Dr Ahmed Habib, distributed the materials to the victims at the Ondo State Agribusiness Empowerment Centre (OSAEC) office in Akure recently.

The distribution started with farmers from Akure South and Akure North Local Government areas, while some of the inputs distributed were maize and rice seeds, yam sets, water pumps, herbicides, fertiliser and growth boosters, among others.

Ahmed, who was represented by the Director of Operations, Ekiti State Office, Mr Olusegun Afolayan, said the relief was to bring the farmers back to production.

According to him, mostly affected by the flood were maize, rice, yam and cassava farmers. Ahmed, however, explained that the Federal Government was not unsympathetic to their plight, but was delayed due to several factors, including climate change and the global economic effect of COVID-19 pandemic last year.

The NEMA boss said the scheme, which kicked off with two local government areas, would be extended to the remaining 18 councils of the state so that other victims could benefit.

MEANWHILE, farmers in Akwa Ibom State that were affected by flood in 2020 have commended NEMA for empowering them with inputs.
 
Precisely, 2,208 farmers benefited from the largesse, and according to the Director-General of NEMA, Alhaji Ahmed, the Federal Government distributed the inputs as part of measures to ensure adequate food production in the country.

Represented by Mr Demien Egwu, Supervisor, Akwa Ibom Emergency Agricultural Intervention Fund (EAIF) for 2020 Flood-Affected Farmers, said the state was one of the states affected by the disaster. He said that 13 local government areas in the state were initially enumerated to benefit from the palliatives.
 
“You will recall that in 2020, there was massive flood across the country. Akwa Ibom State happened to be one of the affected states.
 
“The Federal Government, in the bid to sustain food security, set up the Food Security Council, and their duty was to ensure that farmers that were affected by that disaster are supported to improve food production in the country.

“In line with that, 13 local government areas were chosen to intervene with these agricultural produce in Akwa Ibom State. We came to do the enumeration and we enumerated 2,208 farmers for this project.
 
“And today, we are here to give the items that the Federal Government provided to the 2,208 farmers. Similarly, NEMA commenced the distribution of agricultural intervention inputs to farmers in Delta State for those affected by the 2020 flood.