The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), says it will this week commence the first phase in the distribution of agricultural inputs grants to farmers affected by the 2018 flood disaster in Anambra.
This will enable affected farmers in the state to start the planting season.
Mrs Bolanle Ojo, Supervisor for the National Food Council Emergency Agricultural Intervention, said this on Monday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka.
Ojo said that 4,390 farmers who farmed on about 7, 251 hectares of farmlands had been verified and captured in the data gathering exercise for the intervention programme.
Th supervisor said NEMA had taken delivery of some of the items which include seedlings, Agro-chemicals and fertiliser, adding that more were still being awaited.
She said some of the seedlings include yam, cassava cuttings, rice, tomatoes, vegetables among others.
According to her, the distribution will start this week with yams to commence the planting season.
Ojo said the agency would handover the items directly to the beneficiaries in accordance with the information they declared during verification, noting that the issue of diversion was not possible.
She however same the agency would continue to work with the Anambra Emergency Agency, Ministry of Agriculture, the security agency and other relevant agencies to achieve optimal result.
According to her, the intention of the Federal Government for the intervention is to ensure that there is no food scarcity resulting from the 2018 flood disaster in the country .
“These are purely agricultural input grants, no money, the seedlings are some of the best improved seedlings we have in the country, we are going to be here until the last beneficiary was attended to.
“They cooperated very well during the verification and registration exercise, we are expecting that corporation again from them during the distribution, “she said.(NAN)
