Flooding: Women farmers urge Kano State Govt. to evacuate sand from rice farms

Female farmers in Kano State, under the aegis of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), have urged the state government to evacuate sand that covered  many rice farms after last year’s flooding.

The state AFAN woman leader, Hajiya Fatima Kiru, made the call in Kano on Tuesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

‘’We are calling on the state and Federal Governments to come to the rescue of rice farmers in the state by removing the sand that has taken over many rice farms.’’

Kiru said the call became necessary as most of the rice farms in five local government areas of the state that were affected by last year’s flood had been covered by sand.

‘’Since the last year’s flooding which destroyed many farmlands and crops valued at several millions of naira, most of the rice farms had been covered by sand.’’

According to her, the affected farms were located in Bebeji, Bagwai, Warawa, Minjibir and Bunkure local government areas of the state.

“We used to get 500 bags of rice in our farms but it will be very difficult to get one quarter this coming planting season, if the sand is not cleared from the farms.”

She said that the association had, through the state Ministry of Agriculture, requested for possible assistance from the state government.

 She said that the association also planned to write to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on the issue for immediate assistance before the commencement of farming activities.

She further urged the state and Federal governments to ensure early distribution of fertiliser and other inputs, to enable farmers prepare adequately for this farming season. (NAN)