Farmers in tale of woes over flooding

By Cynthia Alo There are indications that farmers may have suffered huge losses following recent heavy rains that created flooding of farmlands across the country. Vanguard AgroBiz findings reveal that many farmers across the country are now battling with the impact on survival of their farming businesses. The situation may worsen as the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NiHSA) warned that about 17 states, including Bauchi, Edo, Imo, Kaduna, Plateau and Benue, as well as 11 others, will experience flooding between July 21 and July 27.

Giving an account of the situation in Rivers State, Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Rivers State Chapter, Mr. Akandu Nwagwuagwu, said the flooding across Tai, Eleme, Oyigbo, Etche and other parts of the state left many crop and livestock farmers with losses running into billions of naira. He stated: “The recent flooding in Tai, Eleme, Oyigbo, Etche and other local government areas destroyed not only crops but also poultry, fish, goats and other livestock worth billions of naira.

In a video he did and shared with Vanguard, showing the submerged Elema farm road in Rivers State, Nwagwuagwu said that as of July 16, farmers had witnessed massive flooding that eroded farmlands and destroyed crops, lives and property. In the video, one of the farmers could be heard appealing for assistance, saying, “We are pleading with the Rivers State Government and organisations such as the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, to assist Elema and other affected communities in finding a lasting solution to this situation. An 18-year-old boy lost his life on the Elema farm road.” Also confirming the plight of farmers across Rivers, Anambra, Bayelsa and other affected states, the National President of the Potato Farmers Association of Nigeria (POFAN) and Deputy National President of AFAN said reports of the devastating impact of the flooding had continued to reach the association.

He said:”The reports on our desk show that our farmers have been badly affected by flooding this year in Rivers, Anambra and Bayelsa states”. “We need to do the needful to prevent future occurrences. Major interventions should include early warning systems, insurance and financial support from the federal government down to the local government level.

Awareness must also be intensified. Also confirming the situation of the Small Scale W…