Flood affected farmers in Anambra appeal to FG to redeem pledge

FARMERS from Enugwu-Aguleri in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State affected in the 2018 flood disaster in the state have commended the federal government for its  recent support to them  with agricultural inputs worth millions of naira, appealing  that it  redeem its pledge of supply of blends fertiliser earlier promised to farmers in the zone.

They made their minds known  recently,  when officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) inspected their farmlands.

Mrs Ifeoma Uba and Mr  Lawrence  Udemezue, who made the appeal urged the federal government to sustain the assistance given to victims of the flood disaster.

Mrs Ubah  said that  she had applied various seedlings and agro-chemicals on five farm parcels in different locations. expressing  optimism that the crops will yield bumper harvest later in the year.

On his part, Mr Lawrence Udemezue, a vegetable and cassava farmer commended the federal government for the assistance given them. He was of the view that ,“If the federal government had been supporting farmers since the 2012 flood, everybody would have grown as big as I am today.”

He added that “the support this year really helped many farmers here. We applied the chemicals provided to us, and as you can see, there is no insect infection. See how green my bitter leaf is. See the cassava you gave us too. The variety is good judging from the tuber it is already producing.”

Mr Chukwudum Ukodei, Chairman of Rice Farmers Association in Atani ,  Ogbaru  Local Government  Area,  after receiving some agro-chemicals from NEMA officials, said that  the  gesture would help to prevent food scarcity next year.

Another agro-chemicals recipient, Mrs Ogechukwu Ndukaihe said that increased yield from her cassava and yam farms would help her family to be food-secured, and payment of school fees would be easier.

Speaking ,NEMA’s supervisor for the distribution project, Bola  Ojo said over 5,000 farmers benefitted from the gesture. Over 7,000 hectares of farmland  were covered.

She  said that  flood affected farmers were across seven local government areas of Awka North, Orumba North, Ayamelum, Ogbaru, Anambra East, Anambra West and Ihiala.