Following the floods that have ravaged farmlands in the northern part of the country, agricultural experts and big-time players in the agro-allied industry have sounded the alarm over an impending food crisis across the country as agricultural fortunes dip in the North.
The experts insist that unless urgent and very drastic steps are immediately taken, the crisis may worsen as floods continue to ravage farmlands in the northern states.
Ten states, namely Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Nasarawa, Taraba, Bauchi, Zamfara, Yobe, Sokoto and Kebbi are highly affected, following heavy rainfall in the region, The PUNCH learnt.
In an interview with The PUNCH, an agricultural investor in Toro LGA of Bauchi State, Bello Yakazsi, urged the government to declare an emergency in the food sector across the country.
Yakazsi, said, “While the situation we are currently experiencing in the North can be said to be a peculiar one, it is high time that the Federal Government declared a state of emergency in the country’s agricultural sector.
“We have limited powers over the strange and dynamic play of Mother Nature but the little efforts we can muster to save ourselves from hunger and starvation must be put in place by all the government agencies. This is not the time for politics.”
The PUNCH investigation showed that continuous rainfall across the region posed a threat to grains and farmlands, which could lead to a poor harvest and hunger as farmers battle the scourge of drought.
As a result of the effect of the twin threat of flood and drought, some farmers in Kano State, especially those within the 14 LGAs that are at a high risk of flooding as predicted by the National Emergency Management Agency, have continued to express fears about possible flooding in the state and have begun praying against flooding as rainfall persists across the 44 Local Government Areas.
One of the farmers in Rimin Gado, Mallam Musa Sani, told The PUNCH, “Since the beginning of August, we’ve been experiencing heavy rainfall, which lasts for long hours, on a daily basis.
“As you know, too much rainfall does not allow crops to grow speedily. So, we fear that once flood occurs, farmers are at the risk of losing their crops.”
An official of the State Emergency Management Agency, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, confirmed to The PUNCH on Saturday that “even though the agency has yet to receive the comprehensive report on the flood from our assessment team, we are very worried about the situation but, we cannot act without any official report.”
Meanwhile, the Secretary of the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency, Dr. Haruna Mairiga, told our correspondent in Dutse that over 2,744 hectares of farmlands had been washed away by flood in Jigawa State. The floods ravaged 12 LGAs, namely Buji, Kafin Hausa, Auyo, Hadejia, Birniwa, Malam Madori, Garki, Taura, Gwaram, Dutse, Kiyawa and Jahun.
“No fewer than 2,744 hectares of farmlands have been washed away by the flood across the 12 affected LGAs. From August 1 to 13, 2024, the state witnessed intermittent downpours leading to several incidences of flood and the death of 21 persons as well as the destruction of farmlands and houses,” Mairiga said.
He added that farmers in the state had lost over N1bn of farm produce and crops to flood.
Mansur Musa, Chairman of Kiyawa LGA, one of the worst-hit LGAs, said many farmlands and villages, as well as the LGA secretariat, have been submerged by water.
In Zamfara State, Shehu Shinkafi, a farmer on the outskirts of Shinkafi LGA told The PUNCH that many farmers were expecting a bumper harvest following the stability of water in their farms.
However, he expressed fears following the emergence of heavy rains in the state in recent times.
The PUNCH reports SEMA as stating that the downpour, which started last Friday and destroyed many farmlands, towns, and villages, lasted for more than 12 hours in all parts of the state. According to a report by NEMA, more heavy rainfall is expected in the state.
The agency had predicted that eight LGAs in the state - Bungudu, Gummi, Gusau, Bakura, Maradun, Talata-Mafara, Shinkafi, and Zurmi – would be affected by flooding during this year’s rainy season.
This was disclosed by the agency’s Director-General, Zubaida Umar, in Gusau during the sensitisation programme for the 2024 downscaling of flood early warning strategies for early actions.
Also, the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency predicted that in this year’s annual flooding outlook, 31 states with 148 LGAs would be within the high flood-risk areas, while 35 states, including the FCT and 249 LGAs, were considered within the moderate flood-risk areas. The remaining 377 LGAs were forecasted for the low flood-risk areas.
Last Friday’s downpour destroyed thousands of hectares of farmlands in Zamfara, while properties worth billions of naira were lost.
On August 16, a devastating flood killed 11 people and over 500 houses affected in Gummi town, the headquarters of Gummi LGA of the state.
Ahmed Bala Gusau, who confirmed the incident, said the agency had visited the affected communities.
“It’s really sad and unfortunate as we have on several occasions enlightened the people of the state of the measures they were supposed to take to avoid flooding,” Gusau said.
Gusau pointed out that, some of the reasons for the flooding included dumping refuse on waterways, building on waterways, heavy rainfall and lack of drainages.
Other factors according to him were, poor building structures, poor attitude to refuse disposal, drainage and environmental laws.
One of the affected victims, Sanusi Garba, said, “We are seriously in need of urgent assistance because we are now homeless, we need food and other necessary daily needs. We call on the state government to as a matter of urgency to come to our aid.”
The Secretary, Zamfara State Emergency Management Agency,
Meanwhile, a large-scale farmer in the state, Alhaji Garba Musa, advised farmers to ensure they did not block the major water routes within their farmlands to avoid flooding and destruction of their crops.
“As we still await more rainfall, I am appealing to farmers in the state to avoid blocking waterways within their farmlands so that the water can flow easily whenever it rains. I also urge those whose crops are ready for harvest to quickly do so to avoid losing them to flooding.”
The PUNCH investigation revealed that Yobe State was also grappling with a severe flooding crisis that has left numerous towns and villages submerged, posing a significant threat to the livelihoods of farmers in the state.
Prayer sessions have been organised as residents seek spiritual solutions to the torrential rainfall across the LGAs and Emirates in the state.
Jakusko Local Government Area has been particularly hard hit, with several towns and villages bearing the brunt of the destructive floods.
Rice farms in the riverine areas of the LGA have been completely submerged due to the relentless downpours affecting communities in Matakudkum, Dumbari, Guzumbana, Gwayo, Tasga and Jagondamasa.
Farmers in the region told The PUNCH they were in a dire situation, with many expressing fears of losing their entire season’s harvest.
Musa Dikko, a rice farmer, emphasised the urgent need for “on-the-ground assessments to determine the scale of the devastation and facilitate appropriate relief efforts.”
In light of the escalating crisis, organisations such as the United Nations Development Programme, Food and Agriculture Organisation, NEMA, SEMA and the North-East Development Commission have been implored to intervene swiftly and provide the necessary assistance to rescue the farming communities and the affected populations in the region.
“Collaborative efforts are essential to avert further devastation and alleviate the sufferings of those impacted by the floods in Yobe State,” said Muktahr Ahmed, a group coordinator with the state SEMA, said.
Flooding has also affected parts of Nasarawa State, destroying crops and farmlands in the North-Central state.
Although there was no heavy rainfall around most communities between August 2 and 12, torrential rains suddenly resurfaced across the 13 LGAs of the state, including Lafia, the state capital, and washed away several farmlands, The PUNCH learnt.
Heavy rainfalls were witnessed.
The floods ravaged a five-hectare farmland belonging to a former Commissioner of Youth and Sports Development in the state, Amb. Lucky Yargwa, destroyed crops worth millions of naira in his farmland located at the Farin Ruwa Development Area in Wamba LGA.
“About five hectares of my farm was destroyed by the floods. What is remaining now is not up to 20 per cent of what I planted. I will not complain too much because I believe that God knows all things. Though millions of naira have gone, I see it as part of the challenges in the world,” Yargwa said.
Speaking on the development, the state Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Isaac Kigbu, said, “The situation calls for concern. I want to call on the government to help us, so, that we can embark on dry-season farming. We (farmers) will appreciate all the assistance that we can get at this moment from the government and other good citizens of the country.”
The PUNCH correspondents in Bauchi, Sokoto and Kebbi states report that there has been consistent rainfall in the past few weeks and almost daily.
However, the worst hit farmlands, it was learnt, were in three LGAs in Sokoto, as farmers in these areas complained that they had been experiencing floods in recent times due to the excessive rainfall.
According to a statement made available to our correspondent by the spokesman of the state SEMA, Abdullahi Ghani, farmlands in Tangaza, Gudu and Gada LGAs are mostly affected.
“In Tangaza Local Government Area, over 73 farmlands were submerged as a result of heavy downpour, which resulted in flooding.
“The affected communities are Sakkwai, Ruwa-wuri, Takkau with affected areas as Tashar Atto and Unguwar -kara area.
“Also in Gudu Local Government Area, over 80 farmlands were also affected as a result of heavy downpours and floods, which resulted in the breakdown of the Earth Dam from Kutufare village.
“The affected communities are Balle, Kurdula, Kutufare, Tungar-Balle, and Ayama with about 3,300 households affected in the process.”
Abdullahi Bello, a farmer from Gudu LGA, said, “The flood has washed away my farms completely. All my hope is gone. Help us appeal to the government and authority concerned to come to our aid on how to come out of this disaster.”
In Kaduna, despite the state government’s efforts to mitigate the effects of the floods, several rice farmers lamented the losses suffered from the heavy rains.
However, Muhammad Umar, Chairman, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria in Kaduna State, expressed optimism, saying the current rainfall across the state has brought hope for some crops to recover for a bumper harvest.
“All that is needed is for the state government to assist farmers with the necessary farm inputs like fertiliser. Certainly, the yield will be low. Thank God, it has been raining. If the rain continues, I believe some crops can pick up,” he said.
Umar also advocated for the revival of the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, which he believes will guarantee food security and correct past mistakes.
“I think security should be improved, and the government should review the Anchor Borrowers Programme of the last administration on rice production. I think that will help the government and the citizens.”
However, Muhammad Umar, Chairman, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria in Kaduna State, expressed optimism, saying the current rainfall across the state has brought hope for some crops to recover for a bumper harvest.
“All that is needed is for the state government to assist farmers with the necessary farm inputs like fertiliser. Certainly, the yield will be low. Thank God, it has been raining. If the rain continues, I believe some crops can pick up,” he said.Umar also advocated for the revival of the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, which he believes will guarantee food security and correct past mistakes.
“I think security should be improved, and the government should review the Anchor Borrowers Programme of the last administration on rice production. I think that will help the government and the citizens.”
As Umar noted, the government had disbursed trillions of naira on intervention funds to support the agricultural sector over the years.
One such was the Anchor Borrowers Programme of the Central Bank of Nigeria, which was established in November 2015 to create economic linkages between Small Holder Farmers and Anchors, but has been discontinued with the apex bank currently trying to recover funds.
