Dr Adewunmi Adesina, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, has said that the Federal Government will soon evolve a national flood recovery food production in the country.
Adesina stated this in Makurdi on Wednesday during the inauguration of the release of food relief to families affected by the recent flood disaster.
Explaining the rationale for the policy, the minister said that the national flood recovery food production plan would help to mitigate the effects of the natural disaster on food security.
He maintained that the plan would also address the immediate food problems of the areas affected by floods and in assisting food production efforts in the areas not affected by the recent flood.
Represented by Mr Sunday Edigbo, the Regional Director, North-Central Zone, Adesina stated that President Goodluck Jonathan had approved the sum of N9.7 billion for the implementation of the plan across the country.
He said Benue was expected to receive 40 tonnes of grains such as maize, sorghum and millet to be distributed to the affected people free of charge.
Also speaking, Gov. Gabriel Suswam commended President Jonathan for the initiative, stressing that the people of Benue were very appreciative of the gesture.
Suswam also thanked the president for the release of N500 million in order to ameliorate the sufferings of the victims.
Represented by Dr Eugene Aliegba, the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, the governor assured the minister that the item would be equitably distributed to the flood victims.
He pointed out that the state had mapped out plans that would assist in stepping up food production in the state.
He said that the state was ready to key into the transformation programmes of the ministry that were geared toward enhancing food production in the country.
In his remarks, Mr Aondona Kuhe, state Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), said the association would monitor the distribution of the grains to ensure fairness and equity.