The Federal Government has released 4,800 tonnes of assorted grains for distribution to persons affected by the recent flood disaster in five states across the country.
Minister of State for Agriculture, Alhaji Bukar Tijani, flagged off the distribution of the grains at the Strategic Grains Reserve Silo in Gombe on Monday.
Tijani said the benefiting states are Adamawa, (1,500) tonnes, Borno (750) tonnes, Gombe (900) tonnes, Katsina (900) tonnes and Yobe (750) tonnes.
The minister said a total of 40,000 tonnes of food items such as maize, sorghum, garri and millet would be distributed from the Strategic Reserve Silos located all over the country.
He urged the committee members vested with the responsibility of distributing the items to ensure transparency and commitment in the exercise.
“In order to further alleviate the problem of the flood victims, Mr President through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has put in place a National Flood Recovery Food Production Plan for the dry season.
“The goal is to ensure that the immediate food security needs of the areas affected by the flood are addressed and doubled up food production in area that are not affected by floods, to ensure that our national food security is not threatened.
“Consequently, Mr President has also approved the sum of N9.7 billion to implement this plan nationwide,’’ he said.
He said the plan involved the distribution of food items to states free of charge, distribution of planting materials and fertiliser as well as procurement of small scale irrigation water pumps for dry season farming.
The Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Mr Tha’anda Rubainu, said immediately the flood occurred, government established camps for the affected persons and that some of the victims were still in the camps.
Rubainu said since his assumption to office, Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo, had initiated a lot of programmes which were aimed at improving agriculture in the state.
