The Federal Government in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development has distributed farm inputs and equipment to 107 farmers in Nasarawa State.
The support, the duo claim, was to support the farmers in cushioning the effect of the recent flooding which washed away many farmlands in the state.
Speaking during the handing-over ceremony in Lafia on Thursday, the Acting National Programme Coordinator of FGN/IFAD Value Chain Development Programme, Fatima Aliyu, said the gesture was to ensure food security across the 13 Local Government Areas of the state.
Fatima, who was represented by Safiriyu Alabi, added that the initiative is aimed at alleviating the pains and suffering of the poor farmers who were heavily affected by the flooding.
She said, “I am delighted to be at the special occasion of the flag-off of the distribution of agro-inputs and equipment to our farmers who were affected by the devastating effects of this year’s floods.
“Let me sincerely commiserate with the government and good people of Nasarawa state on the loss of lives, properties, and livelihoods to the floods.
“We believe that this support by the FGN/IFAD VCDP will go a long way in alleviating the adverse effects of the floods, and assisting our farmers to recover from their losses and restore their livelihoods.”
In his speech, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Water Resources, Nuhu Oshafu, while calling on the beneficiaries to utilise the inputs to achieve the best results in line with the objectives of the grant, commended the FG and IFAD for initiating the programme.
“During the last wet season, many farmers across different parts of Nasarawa state suffered grave setbacks caused by the flood. Therefore, the flood recovery strategy support grant will in many ways help our flood victims to recover from their losses,” Oshafu added.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Acting Programme Coordinator of FGN/IFAD VCDP in the state, Rifkatu Jatau, said only farmers from the benefiting LGAs of Lafia, Doma, Wamba, Nasarawa and Karu, would receive the grant.
She mentioned the inputs and equipment to include 4,240 kg of rice seeds (Faro 44), 636 bags of fertilisers, 212 litres of selective and non-selective herbicides and 40 water pumps.
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