Farmers lose N11.5 Billion rice plantation to flooding in Kwara
By Mahmood Olayinka Alaya
About 5,000 hectares of rice plantations, valued at N11.5 billion, have been destroyed by flooding in several communities across Moro, Edu, and Patigi Local Government Areas of Kwara State.
The devastation was revealed when Dr. Ahmed Adamu Saba, a member representing Edu/Moro/Patigi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, visited the affected areas in Edu over the weekend.
The flood impacted rice farms in communities such as Fonga and Jebba in Moro; Lade, Patigi, and Kpada districts in Patigi; as well as Shonga, Bacita, and Lafiagi in Edu.
Over 5,000 rice farmers reportedly suffered losses due to the alleged release of water from dams in Jebba and Kainji, Niger State.
During his visit, Dr. Saba expressed deep concern over the scale of destruction, calling it a major threat to food security.
“The affected farmers were engaged in dry-season farming and never expected flooding at this time of the year. Typically, flooding occurs during the rainy season, not in dry months when water levels are expected to be low,” he said.
He emphasized the importance of rice production in Moro, Edu, and Patigi,saying that their high-quality rice feeds many Nigerians.
“This disaster is unprecedented, especially in the dry season. The flood, which resulted from the opening of the Kainji and Jebba dams, has submerged vast farmlands, causing losses worth billions of naira. Many farmers had invested in these lands for months, only to be devastated by this unexpected disaster,” Saba added.
The lawmaker, who is also a rice farmer questioned the rationale behind the water release, saying, “The timing of the flood is suspicious. We need to investigate why the dams were opened at a time when no one expected water inflow in this region.”
Dr. Saba pledged to raise the issue in the House of Representatives once it reconvenes from recess and called on federal agencies to investigate the cause of the flooding.
To support affected farmers, he distributed relief materials, including: 150 bags of NPK fertilizer, 50 knapsack sprayers, 50 bags of rice seeds, 170 liters of pesticide and chemicals, and 10 solar-powered water pumping machines
“The House of Representatives will look into this matter once we reconvene. We need to engage the relevant federal agencies, including the Ministries of Agriculture and Water Resources, to find lasting solutions. Food security is at stake, and urgent action is needed,” he said.
He also assured farmers that he would liaise with the federal government to explore additional support mechanisms.
The lawmaker representing Edu Constituency in the House of Assembly, Hon. Gideon Saba Yisa, described the disaster as unexpected and urged the federal government to intervene.
“The rainy season already limits farming activities in this region due to recurrent flooding. That’s why many farmers wait until the dry season to cultivate rice. Unfortunately, they were caught off guard by this incident because there was no prior warning about the water release,” Yisa said.
He warned that if urgent action is not taken, the situation could lead to food shortages and worsen security challenges in the country.
“Many insurgents and bandits emerge from economic hardship and joblessness. If nothing is done, this disaster could create more social instability,” he added.
Some affected farmers also appealed to the federal government for immediate assistance, stressing that their livelihoods have been wiped out.
It will be recalled that the Kwara State Government had set up a delegation led by the Deputy Chief of Staff Princess Bukola Babalola, to establish the causes of the unusual flooding that submerged the rice farmlands
Other members of the delegation were the Chairman, House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture Saba Gideon; Commissioners for Agriculture, Water Resources, Environment, and Youth Development, the Special Adviser on Special Duties; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security; Chairman Edu Local Government Area Abdullahi Bello; Secretary Kwara State Emergency Management Agency; a director in the Office of the Secretary to the State Government; and General Manager of Kwara State Social Investment Programme.
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