Despite flood, drought, rice farmers record bumper harvest

Farmers nationwide faced four challenges this year: floods, moderate drought, diseases and the cost of labour and input. 

In most areas of the North-West, crops were inundated under water due to floods and moderate droughts, while in several North eastern and central states, investments were withered by drought.

Our correspondents in the states report that farmers have managed to record good harvests in spite of these difficulties.

In Kebbi State, rice farmers said despite the flooding that submerged and washed away many rice farms, they still recorded bumper harvest. It would be recalled that 16 out of the 21 local government areas of the state suffered flooding and wind storms resulting in many farmlands being taken over by flood waters.

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In Argungu, Arewa, Suru Bagudo and Maiyama, farmers recorded huge losses as their rice that were about to be harvested were washed away by flood.

Despite this terrible situation, some rice farmers who were lucky to survive the incessant rainfall which caused havoc to farm produce, particularly rice, said they recorded a huge profit after harvesting what was left of their rice.

Abubakar Maigari, a rice farmer in Kalgo area of the state, said he recorded bumper harvest this year. “Let me just say I was lucky to record a bumper harvest this year. I have sold 56 bags of paddy this year. I still have about 22 bags in my store. From the huge harvest we made this year, the price of rice may likely crash in the various markets in Kebbi.”

Maigari said he sold each bag of paddy for N52,000.

Another rice farmer, Aliyu Sani told our correspondent that due to the bumper harvest rice farmers in the state recorded this year, the price of rice has started crashing in the markets. “Last week, a measure (mudu) of rice was sold at Kalgo, Kamba, Dakingari and Argungu markets for as low as N1,500, N1,600 as against its initial price of N2,700, N2,600 price. I think the price will still crash further in weeks to come when the markets are expected to be flooded with rice,” he said.

A rice trader in Bagudo area of the state also confirmed that despite the huge losses some of their colleagues recorded as a result of flooding, many farmers still have cause to smile because their harvest was good.

“I don’t know if this will help to bring down the price of rice but those of us that recorded a good harvest are already smiling to the banks, though we sold paddy for as low as N43,000 and N45,000 against its N55,000 and N52,000 prices early this year,” he stated.

To confirm their predictions, a measure of rice was sold for N1,700 in Birnin Kebbi and its environs last week as against the price of N2,800. Some rice traders in the state capital, Birnin Kebbi, confirmed to Weekend Trust that a mudu of foreign rice is now N2,600 or N2,500 against its price of between N3,200 and N3,500 previously.

The chairman, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) in the state, Yusuf Argungu, confirmed to Weekend Trust that farmers in the state recorded bumper harvest in rice production despite the flooding. He said that was possible because RIFAN had advised rice farmers not to plant in the FADAMA. 

“Many of our farmers heeded our advice; they planted in the highland areas of the state and it resulted in high yield for them. Many of them were saved from the problem of flooding which affected some farmers in the state. Now, paddy is sold for N45,000 in different rice markets in the state against the N70,000 it was sold a few months ago. The bumper harvest is already crashing rice prices in Kebbi State. In 13 rice producing local government areas of Argungu, Augie, Suru, Kalgo, Jega, Bunza, Bagudo, Maiyama, Dandi, Arewa Yauri, Ngaski and parts of Birnin Kebbi, farmers recorded bumper harvest,” he said.

In Nasarawa State, farmers are happy with their harvest despite the mild drought that affected the southern part of the state. They said that paddy harvests have been good.

The state also witnessed massive production in the upland fields.

Although in Taraba State, flood and drought affected many farmers, harvest has been good for many farmers according to our correspondent.

Lawal Gaskiya, from Gassol area, told Weekend Trust that he harvested over 2,000 bags of paddy rice from his farms located a distance from the bank of the River Benue.

He said several other farmers whose farms were located far away from the river also witnessed bumper harvest.

He also said farmers were still harvesting their rice farms across both sides of River Benue in Taraba State.

Findings revealed that despite the bumper harvest being witnessed by rice farmers, the price of paddy rice is still rising in the state. Weekend Trust gathered that the price of paddy rice has risen from N34,000 to N48,000 per 100kg bag.

The story is not different from Niger State as despite the flood disaster that ravaged some parts of the state, rice farmers still recorded bumper harvests.

However, farmers are pessimistic that the price of rice will come down due to the cost of inputs during the planting period.

One of the farmers in Edozhigi, Tauheed Dwale, expressed optimism that the price would reduce this year due to high yield, while other farmers held contrary views, saying that the price would not come down due to the cost at which farmers bought inputs, especially fertiliser.

Abdullahi Isah, a rice farmer from Gbako LGA agreed that they recorded high yield in rice farming but was pessimistic that the price will come down due to the cost of inputs especially fertiliser.

He said paddy is currently sold at N43,000 per 100kg bag.

“We bought a bag of NPK and Urea at the cost of N63,000 and N55,000 respectively. Government didn’t assist us in terms of subsidising inputs, especially fertiliser. So, if price crashes, farmers would be at a loss. Right now, 100kg of paddy rice is N43,000,” he explained.

But in some parts of Niger State, farmers decried low yield due to the drought they experienced during the wet season.

Aliyu Mohammed, a farmer in Baddegi, predicted possible rise in the cost of rice this year, saying that they did not record yield as high as last year.

“Honestly speaking, our rice farms did not yield well this year because of the drought we experienced. We do not anticipate that the price of rice will come down this year. In my area, we did not experience flooding but the drought that occurred during the rainy season consumed most of our rice farms. So, we cannot take much out this year compared to last year,” he said.

Mohammed, however, said farmers in some parts of the state where flood disasters occurred lost virtually all rice farms including those that were almost due for harvesting.

In Bauchi, the state Chairman of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Yahaya Adamu Yusuf, said that although farmers recorded good harvest, the high cost of fuel used by milling machines and the cost of transportation of their crops from the farms to the market have plunged many farmers into difficult conditions. 

“Our members were able to recover from the double tragedy in Bauchi. First, there was early cessation of rainfall and later the flood disaster, but with the intervention of Almighty Allah at the end of the season, majority of the farmers recorded bumper harvest.  

Yusuf explained that “However, the joy of having a bumper harvest has been eroded by the high cost of transportation which is gradually becoming a source of worry and concern, and which is why the price of both the paddy and rice has failed to come down.”

“Another major challenge is the prolonged power outage in Bauchi and some Northern states because, as I am talking to you, if you take a bag of paddy rice for milling, you will pay higher. We usually pay N3,000 per bag but it has now skyrocketed to N8,000 per bag due to the power outage. You can now see that the hike in fuel price and the power outage have put farmers in a difficult situation,” Yusuf said.