Government at all levels has been urged to assist farmers with soft loans, modern agricultural equipment, farm inputs and drought-resistant seed varieties to improve their yields as well as avert flood disaster in preparation for the next planting season.
The Secretary, Kebbi chapter of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Alhaji Muhammad Idris, who made the call recently in an interview with newsmen in Birnin Kebbi, disclosed that due to the unprecedented flood in the State during the last farming season, 45,000 farmers lost their crops worth N3 billion.
He noted that “Unless the farmers are assisted to massively engage in dry season farming by next year, the State and its neighbours will face food scarcity.”
Idris therefore stressed the need to supply farmers with modern seed varieties that were drought-resistant and could grow faster than the conventional seeds.
He noted that the rural farmers had not received assistance from both the Federal and State governments, as officials from both governments had separately sent delegates that toured affected areas.
“The officials moved round to ascertain the level of the damage but we are still waiting to hear from them,” he said.
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