The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has raised alarm over the present food insecurity and growing health disasters in the country.
NEMA warning is coming against the backdrop of the 2016 Annual Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP) of the Nigeria Metrological Agency (NIMET) containing rainfall pattern and temperature outlook as well as the possible socio-economic implications for the country.
This year’s annual SRP rain pattern and temperature outlook will experience late onset of the season, lower than normal rainfall, early cessation and more frequent dry spell which will lead to crop failure by the month of May to July 2016.
The NEMA’s North West Zonal Coordinator, Alhaji Musa Ilallah said that the implications of the SRP are likely negative due to extreme weather conditions and may include such as, crop failure, drought, threat to food security, threats to human/livestock/animals lives, Health issue and flood. He stated this at a stakeholders meeting held at the agency’s conference room in Kaduna,
Ilallah also charged agric extension workers on the need to step-up enlightenment campaigns for farmers, dry season farming by building more earth dams or rehabilitating existing ones and also providing early maturing crops/drought resistant seedlings.
He stated that adoption of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) strategies against flood, drought, and desertification and effective collaboration among stakeholders through team work and enforcement of laws/legislation will aid in curbing the anticipated menace.
