The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has expressed sympathy to the thousands of farmers whose farmlands were devastated by the recent floods that have ravaged parts of the country.
In a statement posted on his Twitter (X) handle, Kyari acknowledged the severe impact this disaster will have on smallholder farmers, particularly in rural areas. He expressed concern over the National Emergency Management Agency’s (NEMA) report that the flooding damaged over a thousand hectares of farmland and displaced more than 40,000 people across several regions.
This, according to the minister, is a worrisome development as it would negatively affect the social and economic well-being of smallholder farmers.
The minister further stated that the government will prioritize the 2024/2025 dry season farming to compensate for the losses caused by the floods. He mentioned that his ministry is working in collaboration with the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation to enhance the areas under cultivation during the dry season.
“We remain committed to achieving our food security targets,” Kyari said. “We will intensify our efforts in dry season farming to mitigate the losses. The impact of the flooding will undoubtedly affect this year’s harvest, but we are hopeful that it will have a minimal effect on our national food security.”
He also extended his sympathies to the farmers in the North-Central, North-East, parts of the North-West, and South-West regions who have been affected by a recent dry spell. He stressed the need to invest in technologies and practices that help farmers adapt to climate change.
He added: “Under the guidance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, we are embracing smart agriculture and the use of early maturing seeds to pave the way for a more sustainable and secure agricultural sector.
“Our focus will be on strengthening the 2024/2025 dry season farming to recover the losses from the floods. To achieve this, my ministry is working closely with the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation. We have already constituted a joint committee to explore ways to expand areas under cultivation during the dry season and boost food production.”
He urged Nigerians to stand in solidarity with the nation’s farmers, calling on them to provide the necessary support and resources during this challenging period. He expressed confidence that by working together, the country would overcome the difficulties, emerging stronger and united in their commitment to the agricultural sector and to ensuring that farmers continue to feed the nation.
