The last phase of the distribution of over 50,000 bags of 50kg NPK fertilizers to farmers affected by the 2018 flood disaster in Anambra State has kicked off.

The distribution is sponsored by the National Food Security Council in the state and distributed by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

Speaking during the distribution exercise, NEMA’s Supervisor for the project, Mrs. Bolanle Ojo, said that the agency had earlier in the year distributed seedlings and agro-chemicals to the affected farmers.

She listed the affected local government areas Awka North, Ihiala, Ogbaru, Orumba North, Ayamelum, Anambra East and Anambra West.

According to her, the fertiliser distribution is aimed at supporting farmers affected by last year's devastating flood in seven LGAs of Anambra State adding that the exercise have been on since April.

Ojo said: “About eighteen states were affected across the country, but in Anambra, seven Local Government Areas were affected on over 7,600 hectares of land.

“We had given them some inputs in terms of seedlings and agro-chemicals and now, fertilisers to help them boost their yield.”

While explaining that the gesture is to ensure that there is no food scarcity in the country, the Supervisor said that the agency was also monitoring the utilisation of the inputs by the farmers to ensure the state gets its desired objectives.

“Each time the Federal Government supports the farmers, we visit their farms at random to ensure that the farmers planted the seeds.

“Agricultural Extension workers in the local government areas also assist in the monitoring too.

“Overall, we have seen excellent results in the field; the next thing we are expecting is a bountiful harvest and surplus food in the country,” she added.

Ojo further stressed that NEMA was facing a lot of challenges from farmers, who were not affected by the flood but wished to benefit from the project.

A beneficiary who is also a yam and rice farmer, Mr. Bernard Nwakudo, said his rice and yam crops have already started showing signs of good yield.

He regretted that the fertiliser came late like the yam seedlings, but expressed joy that only NEMA has supported them since flood started damaging their crops.

He said: “No form of support has reached the farmers except one from NEMA. So, we are happy that the items came and they came directly to us.”

On her part, Mrs. Ann Jideaku, another yam farmer, expressed joy over the gesture and the quality of rice and yam seedlings she received.

She urged Federal Government to also consider financial support to the farmers so that they could expand their farmlands even as she advised youths to go into farming, especially the cultivation of rice, yam and cassava rather than staying idle or waiting for white collar jobs.

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