Flood: Don Urges Rehabilitation Of Farmers

The federal government has been called upon to facilitate the rehabilitation of farmers that were affected by the flood through the provision of seedlings, fishing gear and other agricultural imputs to enable them continue with their normal farming activities.

A lecturer, Dr. Lucky Eleanya of the Rivers State College of Arts and Science who made the appeal in a telephone interview with The Tide’s recently said since most of the affected people were farmers, it was important to emphasis more on the provision of seedlings and other agricultural imputs and seeds so that they can replant.

He said it was important to start to equip them now to enable them go back to the farm not when the period becomes helpless.

According to Dr. Eleanya, if the process was delayed, it may create tension.

“I think the most important thing now is to rehabilitate these people so that they can live normal lives alone.

“Since most of them are farmers, it is not grains alone that should be given to them.

“They should give them fishing gear, they should supply agric inputs and seeds.

“When it becomes too delayed, it will create more tension” he said. While expressing optimism on early rain this year, Dr. Eleanya said the implication was for the authorities to redouble their efforts in the supply of more seeds to farmers to ensure increased crop yield.

On the opinion from some people that the corn being given to communities by the federal government was alien to them as a staple, Dr. Eleanya said, “but you get used to something in a day, you don’t have to be born with something”.

According to him, what has happened has a general impact on the situation with the country and it was affecting everybody.

He further explained that apart from the provision of seeds to the farmers, they should also be given a measure of the good life.

Dr. Eleanya who said he had earlier canvassed for adequate compensation to the flood victims, expressed regret that such has not been the case.

“We have earlier proposed that they should pay some level of compensation for these people, to those affected communities so that they can settle down.

“They don’t even have the money to buy grains and what they are supplying is not enough.”So something drastic has to be done”, he said.