The Jigawa Government on Tuesday, said it has earmarked N172 million to assist farmers displaced by the flood disaster to engage in dry season farming.
The Commissioner of Agriculture, Alhaji Rabiu Isa, stated this at the disbursement of N13.23 million grant to 180 farmer groups under the Fadama III Programme in Dutse.
Isa said that 2,000 hand pumps would be constructed across the 27 local government areas to accelerate irrigation activity.
He said the measure was to encourage farmers engaged in a productive activities and mitigate their sufferings.
“The state government has approved N172 million for an initiative to support flood victims through residual moisture farming techniques.
“About 2,000 tube wells and hand pumps would be constructed under the scheme.
“It will assist farmers, who lost their farm produce to the flood and enhance food security,” Isa said.
Isa, however, said that the state government had so far distributed water pumps, fertiliser and soft loan facilities to irrigation farmers in the last five years.
“We have rehabilitated irrigation schemes and provided fertiliser, seeds and other inputs to farmers at subsidised rate,” he added.
The Jigawa Government had declared that more than 400,000 farmlands and 360,000 houses were destroyed by the flood in the state.