4,000 Lagos farmers get relief materials

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has started distributing fertilisers and seedlings to over 4,000 Lagos farmers affected by flooding last year.

The distribution which kicked off at Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture’s Farm Centre, Oko Oba, Agege, is expected to reach 4,354 beneficiaries consisting of 2,085 maize farmers, 1,550 cassava growers and 719 rice planters.

Commissioner for Agriculture, Abisola Olusanya, who took delivery of the items from NEMA, said the recipients were identified after a physical enumeration and verification exercise between June 24 and 28.

She said the items provided by the federal government through NEMA included fertilisers, growth enhancers, herbicides, pesticides, knapsack sprayers, water pump and seeds.

She said: “Physical enumeration and verification of the affected farmers was carried out in the state between June 24 and 28. This verification was carried out by a joint team of federal and state agencies to ensure transparency.

“It is my belief that the little gesture from the federal government will go a long way in bringing some succour to the affected farmers and in the long-run help to mitigate against food shortage as a result of the flood incidence.”

In his remarks, NEMA’s Southwest Coordinator, Ibrahim Farinloye said the agency has commenced enlightenment campaigns on disaster reduction, adding that Lagos farmers are now better aware that most parts of the state are below sea level.