NEMA delivers farm inputs to 7, 836 IDP flood victims in Borno
By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has delivered farm inputs to 7, 836 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Borno State.
The distribution of inputs was to alleviate the 2020 flood disasters that hit 11 Local Government Areas of the states.
While presenting the agricultural equipment and fertilizers to Governor Babagana Zulum at the weekend in Maiduguri, NEMA’s Director-General, Ahmed Habib disclosed: “Today, we’re delivering 2,464 kilogrammes each of rice, cowpea and sorghum improved seeds with 4,924 litres of growth enhancers,” adding that 16,004 litres of herbicides and pesticides are to distributed to prevent pre-harvest losses of farmers.
According to him, other farm inputs, include 247 water pumps and 1, 231 each knapsack sprayers for cowpea and sorghum in the flood-affected councils.
He noted that with the ban on fertilizers in the Northeast, 4, 924 litres of NPK liquid fertilizers are being delivered for distribution.
“We’re now attacking vulnerability through farmers’ productivity and the resilience during the 12-year Boko Haram insurgency,” he said.
He, therefore, urged the IDP farmers to make good use of inputs to restore their destroyed means of livelihoods in communities.
Zulum however suggested that the State’s Ministry of Agriculture, SEMA and the 27 councils screen the IDP farmers, before distributing the inputs.
He also warned that none of the farm inputs is sold in the market and host communities.
Speaking on the closures of IDP camps, he said that three had been closed up, while the remaining ones in Maiduguri metropolis will be shut by December 2021.
