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By Nasir Kura
President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to commence immediate restocking of all the strategic grains reserves in the country.
The President gave the directive at a Gala Night organised by rice farmers in honour of beneficiaries of the Anchor Borrowers Programme at the State House in Abuja.
He said the directive was necessary following the completion of a comprehensive survey on damages done to farmers and fishing communities in the riverine areas as a result of flood disaster.
He said the report indicated that over 160,000 farmers and additional 70,000 fishermen were affected by the disaster, adding that “for about three months the National Food Security Council working with the National Emergency Management Agency conducted comprehensive survey of the farmers, fishermen and livestock owners affected by the flood disaster.”
The President, who was honoured at the event with an award of excellence for his administration’s favorable policy that had impacted positively on the country’s agricultural sector, said all the affected persons would be compensated to cushion their hardship.
He thanked the organisers of the event, and assured that the federal government would continue to implement policies and programmes meant to uplift the standard of living of the Nigerian farmers as well as boost food sufficiency in the country.
Also speaking, Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi state, who is the vice chairman of the National Food Security Council, congratulated the President for the award, and assured that Nigeria would soon commence the exportation of rice to boost the nation’s revenue base.
In his remarks, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Audu Ogbeh, said Nigeria had remained the world largest producers of maize, cassava, yam and other staple foods due to the progressive agricultural policies and programme of the Buhari administration.
He said the fortunes of farmers across the country had improved, adding that the farmers were committed to rewarding the President in 2019.