Adamawa -The Federal Government on Monday released 1,500 tonnes of assorted grains as part of relief and rehabilitation assistance to farmers affected by the recent flood disaster in Adamawa.
The State Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Walia Hamma, disclosed this on Monday in Yola while presenting the relief materials to officials of Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA).
``Federal government has donated 1,500 metric tonnes of sorghum and millet to Adamawa to be distributed to farmers and other persons who were devastated by the recent floods in the state,’’ Hamma said.
He said that satellite imagery showed that more than 10. 3 per cent of the arable land in the state was devastated by the floods especially in seven local government areas.
He said that the most affected areas included Fufore, Girei, Yola South, Yola North, Demsa, Numan and Lamurde local government areas.
Hamma noted that from the extent of the damage caused by the floods, Adamawa was grouped in category A state, which also included Benue, Kogi and Delta states.
He said that the federal government had initially released N500 million to each of the most affected states.
``Subsequently, government through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture released N9.7 billion as assistance to the affected farmers.
``The first assistance was the distribution of grains to them which we are today witnessing,’’ he said.
According to the director, the second phase of the assistance to the farmers would be the provision of fertilisers and improved seedlings to enhance their productivity.
He commended ADSEMA for its services to the people and the release of correct data of the affected persons to the federal government.
In their separate remarks, the Executive Secretary of ADSEMA, Mr Shadrack Barub, and the District head of Yola, Sa’ad Bawuro, thanked the federal government for the gesture and assured that the relief materials would reach those they were meant for.
NAN