In what could be described as a major setback for this year’s wet season rice farming in Kebbi State, several rice farmlands have been submerged by flood waters in Shanga and Yauri local government areas.
With over 2,100 farmlands estimated to have been submerged in the two local government areas, 1,300 rice farmlands in Shanga and over 800 in Yauri, many farmers are still counting their losses as rainfed rice farms were washed away, and many others submerged by flood waters.
Kebbi State has 21 local government areas, out of which 14 are rice-producing communities, inlcuding Yauri, Shanga, Bunza, Suru, Argungu, Birnin Kebbi and many others.
The chairman of the Rice Farmers Association (RFA) in the state, Alhaji Sahabi Augie, described the occurrence as a disaster and setback to rice production activities in the State.
Augie said, “The farmers lost everything because their crops were either washed away or submerged.”
He further said the farmers “will need to intensify production and get more farms to cultivate during the dry season to make up for their losses.”
Augie explained that they could not make up for the loss by planting other crops like cassava and sorghum because the planting season is almost over.
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“This is the risk of wet season farming, as we are often faced with flooding. Many times entire farmlands and crops are washed away. Sometimes, if the rain does not fall as expected, it would result in drought and this causes huge losses. When rainfall is high, it causes flooding. Under dry season farming, all the factors of production are under the control of the farmer,” he said.
Gov. Bagudu expressed sadness over the incident and assured the farmers of the state government’s intention to assist them in the next farming season.
