Flood: Benue farmers lament losses Over 90,000 farmers affected - AFAN More than 130,000 hectares of farms washed away Anambra farmers told to begin early harvest
These are certainly no better times for farmers in Benue State, who have lost their farms to the recent flood disaster which ravaged parts of the state.
Daily Trust reports that rice farms in several local government areas of the state were worst hit followed by soybean, yam and maize among others.
State Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Mr. Aondona Hembe Kuhe, said at least 90,000 farmers have been affected in six local government areas of the state.
“There could be more because the flood is said to have covered 21 LGAs. But the reports that I have so far suggested that 90,000 farmers in six LGAs are affected with rice farms as worst hit,” he said.
Kuhe noted that the affected farmers lost a total of 130,000 hectares of farms to the flood with an estimated cost of N2 billion.
He said the local government areas that suffer the losses include, Makurdi, Gboko, Buruku, Agatu, Guma and KastinaAla.
According to him, “I am also affected. A half hectare of my yam farm in Gboko was washed away.”
The AFAN chairman added that there may likely be food shortage by next year occasioned by the devastation of the floods on farms and its produce in the state.
Terkula Jerome, a rice farmer at the North Bank axis of Makurdi, lamented that the flood washed away bigger portion of his rice farm as he worried over how to pay the loan he obtained to cultivate the farm.
He explained: “My rice farm covers a hectare within the Federal Housing estate along University of Agriculture road at North Bank but, the flood swept a larger part of the farm. I’m worried because I obtained loan to cultivate the farm.”
Similarly, Mrs. Joyce Wantu, said her maize farm, though not very large, was also affected by the flood to the extent that she wouldn’t be able to harvest anything.
Our correspondent, who went around the town, observed that rice farms at Achusa, behind BIPC quarters and many other areas all in Makurdi as well as Gboko road; in Guma villages and Naka roads had all been submerged.
In some of the farms affected, one could easily mistake the areas for existing rivers or lakes while the vegetable and maize farms by the North Bank riverside were also completely submerged.
Some of the farmers have appealed to government at all levels to provide seedlings in intervention to assist them participate in dry season farming soon after the rains are over.
A Supervisory Councillor in Agatu LGA, John Ikwulono, told our correspondent that farms in some areas of his locality were washed away by the flood.
“I personally went to assess those farms which were, guinea corn, maize, yam, rice, beniseed farms among others,” he posited.
For Jacob Tondo, a rice farmer in Guma area of the state, there is little hope for his survival after the storm since all his labour had been washed away in just one night of flooding.
Tondo, who said he was yet to recover from the 2012 flood, appealed to the government to aid
Your story on how moneybags are buying off rice farms in Niger State is disturbing. Their activities will further aggravate the cost of local rice in the state. The Niger State government should please act now to check the trend.
Nma Suleiman, Bida, Niger State
Kudos to Daily Trust for exposing the activities of the moneybags mopping up our rice in Niger State. The authorities should wade in so that the clarion call to the farm does not end in vain.
Ndagiko Suleiman, Bida, Niger State
I don’t seem to understand our Agric Minister Audu Ogbeh, again. He says all sorts of things people facing the same problem to bounce back again.
Meanwhile, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, James Anbua, has said that it was still early to actually ascertain farms affected even though many claims had been made.
“Many claims had been made but we can’t verify them now until the water level reduces drastically. But I can confirm that a lot of farms were submerged in mostly 21 LGAs of the state,” the commissioner stated.
Anbua added that farms such as rice and soybean were mostly affected by the flood in the 21 LGAs with Guma, Logo, Agatu, Buruku, Gwer and Makurdi been the worst hit.
Anambra farmers asked to begin early harvest
Meanwhile, farmers in the riverine areas of Anambra State have been advised to commence early harvesting of their farm produce from their farmlands yet to be affected by flood.
A Director in the State Emergency Management Agency, Mr Chukwudi Onyejekwe, gave the advice while speaking on the preparations made so far by the Anambra State government following the flood incidents already ravaging some states in the coastal lines.
He said the advice had become necessary in view of the fresh notice recently issued by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency that more rains would be experienced in the country this month.
“Some parts of the state including Anambra East, West, Ogbaru and Anyamelum local government areas had witnessed heavy flooding in the last few days which submerged their farmlands.
“Some of the farmers have already harvested theirs while some were caught up with the flood,” he said. but not a single one is being done. Imagine him still talking about creating ranches and now he is adding cattle colony for the herders. He has been saying this since he took over at the ministry but where is the result? May God bless this country.
Abdullahi Kareem, Suleja, Niger State
Daily Trust kindly continue to monitor Olam Farm so that they don’t short-change local farmers.
Adamu Isa, Kaduna, Kaduna
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