Agric Minister Assures Farmers Affected By Flood On Zero- Interest Loan
Farmers, especially those whose farmlands were destroyed by floods in Kebbi, Jigawa and Kano States can heave a sigh of relief for the next planting season owing to the assured of support with agricultural inputs and zero-interest loans through the Central Bank of Nigeria and other financial institutions.
This is in alignment with measures to mitigate the effect of the COVID – 19 pandemic and the recent flooding across the states…
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Muhammad Sabo Nanono said over the weekend when he received the 2020 Wet Season Agricultural Performance Survey Report(APSR).
The APSR was conducted between August 23 and September 30, 2020, by the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS) and other agricultural institutions.
Sadly, many farmers in Northern Nigeria had lost their farmlands to the torrential rain caused by two main rivers overflow as stated by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
Nigeria’s biggest rice-producing state- Kebbi, had projected 2.5 million tons this year, but heavy rains in September washed away two mullion tons.-quarter of the country’s projected harvest.
Speaking at the presentation, Nanono said the report was timely and very important, as it will guide the ministry and farmers in planning and preparing ahead of the commencement of the dry season farming. The dry season farming starts October and ends April.
.Furthermore, he called on the farmers to intensify efforts and focus on achieving more successes during the dry season farming to cushion the losses occasioned by the pandemic.
Giving his remarks, Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, (ABU), Prof. Kabir Bala, stated that the institution has initiated the use of over 200 hectares of land in the University for direct crops, livestock, and fisheries production, informing that, “this is our way of contributing to the attainment of national food security.
The report recommended; evolving a definitive action plan on stemming insecurity as well as enhancing productivity through an effective input subsidization blueprint. Additionally, the survey recommended investment in climate-smart agriculture and the development of a strategy to strengthen agricultural extension activities.
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