…As flood forces Anambra farmers into premature harvest

Farmers in flood-prone areas in Anambra State are already counting their losses following the premature harvesting of their crops over the impending flood predicted in the area. 
The farmers said they were forced to take immediate action as they were already losing most of their crops to flood that was presently ravaging the area.
Anambra is one of the states in the country predicted to experience flooding this year by the weather forecasting agencies. 
Ten local government councils of the state listed as possible areas to experience the flooding include Ayamelum, Onitsha North, Onitsha South, Anambra East, Anambra West, Ihiala, Awka North, Idemili South Ekwusigo and Ogbaru.
The President-General of Inoma Community in Anambra West Local Government Area, Patrick Ugboaja, lamented that the flood had already started destroying their crops, which incidentally had led to premature harvesting on the farms. 
He listed some of their communitiesthat were going to be heavily affected by the flood to include, Inoma, Ukwalla, Nzam, Ode, Igbokaenyi, Odekpe and Igbedor.
Meanwhile, majority of the residents living within the flood-prone areas have started making frantic efforts to ensure they are not caught unawares by the disaster.   
One of the residents, Leo Akaolisa, an indigene of Mbarakpata village of Ihiala in Ihiala Local Government Area of the state, said his family was already relocating to the Internally Displaced Persons’ camp in the area.  
“Once beaten, twice shy. We don’t want to take chances this time. I have already relocated to a safer place with my family,” Amaka Chukwu from Agueke village of Ugbenu in Awka North LGA said.  
The Commissioner for Environment, Beautification and Ecology in the state, Dr Romanus Ejikeme, said the flood committee set-up by the state government last year was still in place to take care of any situation.  
He, however, appealed to the residents to avoid indiscriminate waste disposal, blocking of water ways and building houses near rivers.