Anambra State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Foster Ihejiofor, has called on all stakeholders to create more awareness on flood related issues and engage proactive measures against the perennial menace.
Declaring open a One Day Sensitisation Program for Farmers and Extension Agents on Causes, Consequences and Mitigation of Flood at ADP Hall, Ministry of Agriculture, Awka, Dr Ihejiofor, said doing this would provide the needed education and understanding of challenges posed by flooding.
The Commissioner who was represented by the Programme Manager, Agricultural Development Project (ADP), Mr Jude Nwankwo, urged the forum to come up with approaches to ensure that the damage caused by flooding is not further worsened.
While describing the event staged by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) as apt, he charged participants drawn from various local government areas of the state to step down knowledge gained to protect lives, crops and environment.
The Team Leader and Assistant Chief Agricultural Officer(FMARD), Chinyere Ihedioha, identified causes of flooding to include heavy prolonged rainfall, infiltration capacity and deforestation, adding that the essence of the event was to build capacity of participants to tackle the challenge.
Members of the team who took turns to speak during the program called for needed support services for communities suffering consequences of floods every year to relocate permanently.
“Communities should increase cultivation and vegetation practices to improve food security. Good plans should be provided by the government and cooperatives. Areas such as wetlands can be protected by local municipalities by preventing development in those areas”
“We can spread awareness among people about the efficiency of tree planting in preventing floods. Moreover, we can encourage them to plant more trees to cancel the effects. Strong large Dams can be constructed and agricultural labourers can utilize stored water for irrigation”
While canvassing for healthy agricultural practices to protect the soil from flooding, the Desk Officer, FMARD, Vincent Okeke, said there was need for synergy to prevent socio economic effects occasioned by the disaster.
Earlier, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Foster Ihejiofor, represented by the Programme Manager, Agricultural Development Project, Mr Jude Nwankwo, described the event as apt and urged participants to make good use of knowledge gained to effect positive changes.
One of the Participants, Mr Godwin Akujieze, lauded the organizers for considering it proper to stage event and called urged them to make it a regular exercise to fully impact on their lives and communities.
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