BENIN CITY – The need for proactive and preventive measures to be taken on time to mitigate the effect of flooding on farmers have been emphasized.
This emphasis was made by the Edo State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Stephen Idehenre when a delegation from National Orientation Agency led by the Edo State Director, Mr. Austin Odile, paid him an advocacy visit in Benin City on Thursday.
The Commissioner harped on the need for information regarding changes in environment that can adversely affect the general populace, particularly the farmers, to be brought to the fore in good time in order for adequate preparations to be made, adding that extension workers from the ministry have been sent to sensitize the public on measures to adopt to reduce the effect of expected flashflood
Commissioner Idehenre, who noted that information about the flashflood expected to affect Edo State later in the year is coming late as famers have already planted, appealed to the Federal Government to be prepared to provide aid to persons and farmers that will be affected when and if the effect of flashflood or other adverse weather and climate changes occur.
He expressed the Ministry’s readiness to collaborate with National Orientation Agency (NOA) in it’s activities and programmes that will be of benefit to the State especially in the Agricultural sector.
Edo State Director of National Orientation Agency Mr. Austin Odile informed the Commissioner that the visit was occasioned by the prediction of The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) that Edo is amongst the states of Nigeria that will experience heavy downpour.
The Director added that part of their mandate was to help farmers to know when to plant, what to plant and when to harvest so that the effects of the flashflood will be minimal adding that meetings with various farmers’ associations have been arranged so that they will be brought to speed on the exigencies of the time.
