Borno farmers hopeful of bumper harvest
Due to they describe as improvement in the security situation across the state, some farmers in Borno State said they were optimistic of recording a bumper harvests this cropping season.
They attributed the situation to the support and encouragement they received from the security agencies, Borno State Government, and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to return to the farms.
Large numbers of displaced farmers supported by government and humanitarian organizations cultivated their farmlands in Gwoza, Pulka, Konduga and other liberated communities in the state.
This was in what spite of the high risks they encountered in cultivating farms two to three kilometres outside the town, where insurgents roaming in the jungle kill whoever they come across.
FAO, in collaboration with implementing partners, distributed seeds and fertilisers to more than one million farmers this cropping season in the northeast.
Kanem Trust spoke with some of the farmers in highly risky Gwoza and Konduga local government areas, who were expectant of bumper harvest.
Ali Ibrahim, a farmer, said he was anticipating bumper harvest this year in view of the improved security situation and favourable weather condition.
Ibrahim said that he cultivated beans, groundnut and sesame seed at his farms in Gwoza.
He noted that improved security condition and support from the organizations encouraged many farmers to go back to the farms.
“I am happy and hope to get bountiful harvest. I returned to the farm after it was abandoned in the past six years due to the insurgency.
“Already, some farmers recorded high yields at harvest, it will enable us to engage in productive activities,” Ibrahim said.
Mrs Hauwa Buba, a beans grower, said that she cultivated the land inherited from her husband with the support from humanitarian organization.
Hauwa, a mother of four, said she worked on the farm together with her children.
“I will sell the produce to buy other food items to feed my family. I am happy and doing well,” she said.
Another female farmer, Hannatu Joshua, said that she cultivated vegetables on her farm, noting that she no longer go to the market to buy vegetables anymore.
Hannatu disclosed that she engaged her children to manage the farm, adding that the plants are doing well and hoping to get high yields at harvest.
Another farmer, Malam Modu Goni, said that he was preparing to harvest his crops at his farm in few days to come.
The military has introduced security measures to protect farmers against insurgents’ attacks and encourage the resuscitation of agricultural production.
Statistics from FAO showed that over 140,000 households, representing more than one million displaced farmers, benefited from its agriculture support programme.