Wet season farming threatened as insecurity festers

Nigeria may have to brace up for an increase in food insecurity next year if the banditry and communal crises in the country are not checked.

Already, farmers are panicking and the tension is high as the wet season begins next month in the North Central, South West, South-South and South-East geopolitical zones of the country.

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Farmers in the North West and North East are already facing a deadlock in their situation because of their inability to go to their farms due to the high rate of killings, kidnappings and destruction across Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Yobe, Borno, Kebbi and other places.

In parts of the FCT, Niger, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Plateau and Taraba states farmers have abandoned their farms that are located far from home because those farms have increasingly become unsafe. This situation, expert say, will negatively impact the country’s food security drive.

Mrs Elizabeth Jibrin, who ran a vibrant farm in Nasarawa State, like many others, has now abandoned the farm because of the threat of kidnapping and other crimes. Her dream of retiring into full agricultural production is dying because of insecurity.

Daily Trust spoke with Yakubu Jose in Kwali of the FCT. He said he, along with other farmers in the area, incurred losses as they had to abandon some of the farms located far away due to bandits’ activities.

“These farms that we left are the ones that have good soil for crop production. We don’t have any option but to leave it. That is better for our safety and that of our entire families,” the farmer said.

In Katsina, our correspondent also reported that farmers in the state have expressed concern over the lingering bandits’ attacks in their areas and the threat that posed to the forthcoming wet season farming.

Last year, the spate of attacks grossly affected wet season farming with lots of farms left unharvested in parts of Faskari, Dandume and Sabuwa LGAs.

Daily Trust gathered from many states that farmers now seek survival alternatives outside farming.

Mohammed Yakubu, a farmer in Sabuwa LGA in Katsina said the lingering banditry in the area was worrisome especially as it has made it very dangerous to work on their distant farms.

“Even last year, we only cultivated our nearby small farms as we could not go far for the fear of the marauding criminals. There were times that farming activities around Gamji, Tashar Bawa and Maganda areas could not be done without their approval,” he told Daily Trust.

During the last harvest season, some large-scale farmers at Jiruwa, Maganda areas and villages along Katsina/Kaduna border on the Birnin-Gwari axis had to pay levies in huge sums to bandits before they were allowed to harvest their farms.

“About 12 days ago, bandits stormed Unguwar Bako, Kwarawa and Arewaci in Maibakko ward where they rustled many cattle and killed four men; and in Sabuwa LGA, they abducted 25 women,” Muntari Maibakko told our correspondent.

He added that besides that, other attacks have taken place in neighbouring villages of Kaduna State, prompting mass desertion of villages and hamlets.

In Faskari LGA, according to Umar Sani Yankara, those who relocated from their villages to Kano, Katsina, Zaria among other towns may hardly return to their ancestral homes and farms for fear of the spate of insecurity.

“Right from the last harvest season, people of Fitaru, Kuka Shidda, Gidan Najafa, Unguwar Goga and Unguwar Baidu relocated to various towns and cities; and some of them have said even if peace is restored in the areas they may not go back,” he said.

Last Friday, President Muhammadu Buhari directed the new service chiefs to find ways of ending banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities in the next few weeks; before the commencement of farming activities.