Recent floods will affect anticipated farm harvests this year- Agric Minister 

Sen. Kyari said this while reacting to the recent floods that have ravaged the country, mostly in the northern parts of the country destroying farmlands and houses. 

In the past two weeks, fatal floodings across the Jigawa, Taraba and other states mostly in the North has led to loss of lives, properties and farmlands.  

Recent data released by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reveal that thousands of hectares of farmland have been damaged, with over forty thousand people displaced due to flooding across the country.  

Senator Abubakar Kyari expressed concern over the situation, noting that it will adversely affect the social and economic well-being of rural farmers, particularly small-scale farmers. He emphasized that the government will prioritize the 2024/2025 dry season farming to compensate for the losses caused by the flood.  

Additionally, he mentioned that his ministry is working in collaboration with the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation to enhance the areas under cultivation during the dry season. 

He said, “We will meet our food security target despite the losses. We will intensify efforts in dry season farming to cover the losses.” 

“”As we witness the devastation caused by the recent flooding in our agricultural heartlands, my thoughts turn to the hardworking farmers whose livelihoods have been swept away by the unforgiving forces of nature.”  

“The impact of this will be felt on the anticipated harvest this year, though we are hopeful it will have minimal effect on national food security.” 

In the past two weeks, floods mainly in the Northern states of Adamawa, Jigawa and Taraba states have resulted in the loss of lives, farmlands and properties across the region.