Farmers in Gombe State have called on the state government to support them with loans to enhance their farm products.
The farmers made the appeal on Wednesday in Gombe while speaking about their experiences in separate interviews with journalists.
According to them, their farmlands were washed away by floods last year, and they have appealed for government assistance to enable them to cultivate their farmlands this season.
They said that the impact of last year’s flooding on their farmlands has made it “extremely difficult” for them to continue farming.
They also stated that farmers who have cultivated this season did so with bank facilities.
Musa Garba, a rice farmer from Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Area (LGA), stated that the impact of the 2022 flooding on his farmland made it difficult for him to farm this season.
He mentioned that over 70 percent of his three hectares of rice farmland was swept away by the flood. Due to the lack of support, he had to take a loan to enable him to cultivate one hectare this year.
“We really need support because most of the rice farmers affected by last year’s flood could not return to their farms, and this will negatively affect food security in the state,” he said.
Mr. Abubakar Ibrahim, from Panguru Community in Billiri LGA, cultivated over four hectares of soybeans last year but harvested less than two bags of produce.
He expressed no interest in going back to the farm this year without support from the government and other stakeholders.
He mentioned that without assistance, it would be difficult for many farmers to return to their farms.
“We heard that soon the State Government would roll out the sale of subsidized fertilizers and inputs. It is important for the government to consider flood-affected farmers too. I am yet to recover from the impact of last year’s flood because the loan I took to cultivate had not been repaid, so I can’t take another loan to farm this year.” Ibrahim said.
Adamu Bajoga from Funakaye LGA said farmers in his community, who were affected by floods last year, are now afraid to go back to their farms.
Mr. Ibrahim Abubakar, the Head of Extension Officers of the state chapter of the Maize Association of Nigeria Special Project, said that the impact of the floods cannot be quantified.
He added that if the victims are not supported by the government, it would be difficult for many of them to recover from the loss.
“I know nearly 30 farmers who were affected by floods last year and are not going back to their farms due to the lack of funds. The farmers really need help from the Federal and State Governments to avert a food crisis.” Abubakat said.
