Richard Pius Garba – Kafanchan
Ginger farmers affected by pests and fungi in Southern Kaduna have called on the National Emergency Management Agency to expedite the process of providing seedlings and relief materials to thousands of farmers in the area.
Speaking on Thursday when officials of the Agency visited different locations within the six Local Government areas grossly affected by the disease, the farmers also expressed their willingness to commence dry season irrigation farming of ginger to recover fast from the setback occasioned by the fungal attack this year.
In Kachia Local Government Area, one of the large scale farmers, Suleiman Abubakar, who spoke, appreciated the NEMA team for visiting to see the level of damage and expressed hope that relief would come soon.
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Also speaking, Mr Edward Auta, thanked the Distinguished Senator, Sunday Marshall Katung for taking the matter to the floor of the Senate, which he noted necessitated the NEMA officials to visit the area.
He lamented that most of the farmers are facing litigation while some have died as a result of the huge lost they suffered.
In a remark, the NEMA team lead, who is also the Relief and rehabilitation officer of Kaduna office, Hajiya Aisha Yakubu, said the purpose of their visit is to carry out an assessment on the level of damage and make recommendations for intervention.
She explained that because of the large number of farm lands affected within the area, they might not be able to visit every farm, but will use the farms they visit as specimens to cover the entire zone.
The NEMA official pledged the Agency’s resolve to continue to provide relief and succor to those in need and commiserated with the farmers over the unfortunate incident.
Earlier, while receiving the NEMA team on behalf of the Senator representing Kaduna South Senatorial District, the Senior Legislative Aide, Mr. Wilson Iliya Yangye, thanked NEMA for responding to the need to provide relief to his people who depended majorly on ginger farming for their income.
He equally thanked his colleagues in the Senate and House of representative for supporting his motion and pledged to continue to put the interest of his people above board.
Salama News reports that the NEMA team visited ginger farmlands in Kachia, Zango Kataf, Jema’a, Jaba, Kagarko and Kaura Local Government Areas to carry out the assessment.
COV/RPG