Farmers in the Difa community located in the Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Area of Gombe State have raised concerns about the persistent hippopotamus attacks wreaking havoc on their crops.
The ongoing menace posed by these attacks has not only put the government’s efforts towards ensuring food security in jeopardy but has also subjected the farmers to substantial losses.
In the face of these challenges, Ali Umaru, a retired civil servant and prominent farmer in the area, expressed his exasperation with the yearly repercussions of hippopotamus incursions on their farmlands.
Umaru described the situation as “extremely frustrating,” emphasizing the intolerable nature of the damage inflicted on their community’s agricultural productivity.
Umaru pointed out that the proximity of certain areas of the community to the river’s edge and the presence of the Dadin Kowa dam only two kilometers away seemed to be contributing factors to the increased hippopotamus activity in the region.
The animals appear to have found a haven near the water sources, with Umaru noting that their numbers have swelled, leading them to frequently invade the farmers’ fields, especially during the dry season.
These nightly invasions, often occurring in groups of ten, result in the consumption and destruction of rice, okro, watermelon, and other crops.
The repercussions of these attacks are twofold: diminished agricultural output and increased economic hardship for the already struggling farmers.
Umaru lamented that the farmers’ efforts to ensure food security were being hampered as the extent of damage inflicted on their farmlands dramatically reduced their harvest yield.
Some farmers who had originally planted across 50 hectares of land were facing the grim reality of harvesting only 20 hectares due to the relentless hippopotamus attacks. This staggering loss of around 30 hectares in some cases underscores the severity of the situation.
Mrs. Lois Joshua, another affected farmer, echoed these sentiments, recalling how the hippos had consumed a substantial portion of her cultivated land the previous year.
With harvest season fast approaching, the looming threat of hippopotamus invasions is leaving many farmers anxious and uncertain about their prospects.
In response to this agricultural crisis, Amina Nuhu, a local farmer, revealed that the community had resorted to hiring youths and paying them N20,000 per month to guard their farmlands, particularly during the night.
These efforts involve driving away the animals using torches, but the reliance on such measures is a testament to the severity of the issue.
Ibrahim Yakubu, the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry in Gombe State, expressed surprise at the hippopotamus attacks on farmlands, highlighting that these animals are part of the region’s wildlife.
He urged the affected farmers to officially report the issue to the Ministry of the Environment so that appropriate action could be taken. Without formal communication, Yakubu noted, the government’s ability to address the farmers’ complaints would be limited.
Abubakar Hassan, the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Environment, appealed to the farmers for patience as the government sought solutions to the escalating problem.
Notably, he emphasized the importance of preserving these animals as endangered species and implored the farmers to refrain from causing them harm.
The recurring hippopotamus attacks on farmlands in the Difa community have cast a shadow over the agricultural sector, threatening food security and economic stability for the affected farmers.
The situation calls for a collaborative effort between the government and the farmers to find sustainable solutions that safeguard both agricultural productivity and wildlife conservation.
