Niger Government on Wednesday advised farmers to insure their farms against disasters, following recent floods that devastated farmlands in the state.
Alhaji Musa Bawa-Bosso, Commissioner for Agriculture in Niger, gave the advise during an on-the-spot assessment of farms affected by flood in Mokwa Local Government Area of the state.
Bawa-Bosso represented by Dr Mathew Ahmed, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, said insuring farms against disasters would provide farmers with financial protection and support during times of crisis.
“Disasters such as floods, droughts, and pests can have devastating effects on farms, leading to significant losses for farmers just like it has happened.
“By insuring their farms, farmers can receive financial compensation for their losses, which would help them to recover quickly and continue farming,” he said.
He attributed the flood to excess water from Kainji and Jebba dams, associated with climate change.
He assured the farmers that the flood would recede within five days and that extension agents would collect data on affected farmers for possible government intervention.
Bawa-Bosso disclosed that the state government plans to link affected farmers with the Hydro Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) for further intervention.
Also speaking, Alhaji Mohammed Baba, Managing Director of Niger State Agricultural Mechanisation Development Authority (NAMDA), advised farmers in the state to key into the Niger Foods Project.
Baba explained that the project allows farmers to access inputs on credit and repay at harvest, thereby boosting their production.
Earlier, Alhaji Mahmudu Usman, ‘Etsu yankpa’ of Kusogi village, disclosed that the flood had destroyed about 300,000 hectares of rice farms worth billions of Naira.
Usman stated that the disaster had affected indigenous and non-indigenous farmers in more than 25 villages under Kede Community in Mokwa Local Government Area.
He appealed to the state government to come to the aid of the farmers, as their livelihood depends on the farms.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that floodwaters, allegedly from Kainji and Jebba dams, have inundated numerous farmlands in at least ten communities, causing widespread destruction.(NAN)
