Farmlands worth millions of naira have been washed away following the devastating flood in Yauri, Ngaski, and Shanga Areas in Kebbi State. Yauri, Ngaski, and Shanga local government areas are among the leading rice-producing areas in Kebbi State.
The local government areas also contribute significantly to Nigeria’s rice production under the state’s famed “Lake Rice” initiative. However, the catastrophic flood has left rice farmers, who had invested heavily in anticipation of a bumper harvest, in deep despair.
Speaking about the flood, one of the affected farmers, Malam Dankwairo, described the disaster as unprecedented and heartbreaking. Dankwairo stressed that without immediate intervention, many farmers may never recover from the losses inflicted by the flood.
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The water from the River Niger first took over our farms, and then the rains compounded the situation” Dankwairo said. Thereafter, he appealed to political leaders to take prompt action, emphasizing that sympathy visits alone would not alleviate the damage
According to reports, the catastrophe was induced by heavy rainfall, coupled with an overflow of the River Niger. The heavy rainfall has submerged vast hectares of rice fields of hundreds of rice farmers in the state.
As a result, the supply chain of the state food now faces serious jeopardy, with large portions of farmland now submerged. Meanwhile, local officials say they are assessing the level of damage to determine the scale of intervention required.
Also, Community leaders in the affected areas have called on all relevant authorities to urgently provide relief materials for the affected farmers. Similarly, they warned that the crisis could lead to hunger and economic hardship in the coming months if left unaddressed.
