The Federal Government is partnering with the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines towards the introduction of flood resistant rice in the country.
The Minister of Agriculture, Dr Akinwumi Adeshina, stated this in Ilorin on Sunday after a visit to Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara at the Government House.
The minister was in the state to inspect farms destroyed by flood in Edu and Patigi Local Government Areas of the state.
He said the federal government would also distribute to farmers free of charge, high yielding maize seedlings that can mature in 60 days.
He added that the government was making provision for other high yielding and flood resistant seedlings.
According to Adeshina, the gesture is to ensure that the current devastation of farmlands across the country by floods, does not lead to food scarcity.
He sympathised with the government and people of the state on the incident.
The minister attributed the floods to climate change, saying that the federal government has taken measures to deal with the situation.
Ahmed, in his response, appreciated the visit and solicited greater involvement of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in providing succour to the affected people.
