Nigeria plans Flood Recovery Food Production program

Yinka Ojo in the Daily Times (Nigeria): The Federal Government says it has resolved to set up a Flood Recovery Food Production plan to support farmers in the flood affected areas. Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, said this on Saturday at the 2012 National Agriculture Show in Tudun Wada, Nasarawa State.

The government's resolution follows concerns of likely food shortage as a result of flooding in the country. Akinwumi, however assured the country that it would not be plunged into food crisis or famine.

"We have already put in place a Flood Recovery Food Production plan to support farmers in the flood affected areas. As the flood water recedes, we will embark on a flood recession food production intervention," Adesina said, "Let me assure Nigerians that we shall not have food crisis or famine and we will recover from the flood."

Adesina also said that over 100 metric tonnes of maize seeds that mature in 60 days, to be planted on 5,500 hectares of farm lands in the affected areas, had been secured. This, he explained, would allow affected farmers to have crops quickly and feed themselves before the next planting season, adding that it would yield over 11,000 tonnes of the crop....