Effects of Flooding: Food scarcity, rising prices imminent

 

Predictions that the prices of food items may most likely continue to rise due to the devastating floods that have ravaged most states and washed away farms and destroyed people’s properties.

 

Farmers all over the country have lamented that the floods have sunk their investments as they warned that if government failed to intervene quickly, there would be scarcity of food in 2023.

 

The Federal Government through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development revealed that the flood had led to the death of over 500 persons, with about 45,249 houses destroyed and 70,566 hectares of farmland destroyed.

 

The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Sani Gwarzo, told journalists on Tuesday that the flood was comparable only to the 2012 flood in terms of human displacement, livelihood disruption, infrastructure damage and environmental dislocation. He said the National Emergency Management Agency confirmed that as of October 9, the water level at Lokoja and Makurdi along Rivers Niger and Benue was 11 per cent above that of 2012.

 

“So far, the flood has wreaked havoc in 31 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory. Over 500 persons are reported dead; 1,411,051 persons affected; 790,254 displaced persons with 1,546 persons injured. Furthermore, 44,099 houses are partially damaged; 45,249 houses damaged; 76,168 hectares of farmland partially damaged and 70,566 hectares of farmland are destroyed by the great deluge.”

 

Meanwhile, in Nasarawa State, where over 400,000 residents have been displaced, some farmers told Sunday PUNCH that crops worth millions of naira had been washed away.

 

A farmer in Tunga community in Awe Local Government Area of the state, Ibrahim Jibrin, told one of our correspondents that he lost his farm to the flood.

 

He said, “The flooding has really damaged my farmland. All the crops I planted have been washed away.

 

“Now, I am confused because I used all my money to farm and in the end, I would get nothing out of it. It is very sad that farmers are facing this kind of challenge this year.”

 

Another farmer in Toto LGA, Yakubu Haruna, who is into rice farming, could not hold back tears while speaking with our correspondent. “The water came unexpectedly and took over my farmland. Now, there is no rice to be harvested and that’s a waste of my efforts,” he narrated.

 

He feared that there might be food scarcity if nothing was done. “From what is happening now, there will be food scarcity next year if the government does not come up with quick solutions to address the issue, and it may discourage some people from farming next year,” he added.

 

In Anambra State, an official of the State Emergency Management Authority, Mr Chukwudi Onyejiofor, said over 60,000 farmers in the state had been displaced from their farms.

 

He called for massive intervention of both federal and state governments to avert food crisis.

 

The state Commissioner for Information, Paul Nwosu, said the state government had set up a committee to look into the challenges and impact of the disaster.

 

In Bayelsa State, a farmer from Biogbolo-Epie community in the Yenagoa LGA, Chief Yakie Alfred, said his plantain, cassava and yam farms had been submerged by the flood. “Nothing is remaining,” he stated. “My entire farm is under the water. I want to see if I could harvest part of the cassava and get some stems for next year.”

 

The state Commissioner for Environment and Chairman of the state’s Task Force on Flood Mitigation and Management, Iselema Gbaranbiri, said on Saturday that about 700,000 persons had either been displaced or affected by the flood and that no fewer than 300 communities and villages had either been totally or partially submerged.

 

He explained that communities in five other LGAs; Sagbama, Ekeremor, Ogbia, Kolokuma/Opokuma and Southern Ijaw, were seriously affected by the flood.

 

Gbaranbiri said there had been reported cases of corpses washed off at Asokoro cemetery, raising concerns of impending health crisis.

 

He, however, assured residents that the government would do its best to bring relief to victims as the task force was working round the clock to address the flood challenge.

 

On Friday, Governor Douye Diri lamented the impact of the flood during his on-the-spot assessment tour of Southern Ijaw LGA and some communities in Yenagoa LGA. He said despite the fact that the Academic Staff Union of Universities had suspended its strike, the flood might prevent resumption at the Niger Delta University because the road from Yenagoa to Amassoma had collapsed in three areas.

 

Similarly, a former governor of the state and senator representing Bayelsa West, Seriake Dickson, called on the Federal Government to come to the aid of the victims.

 

He stressed that people’s sources of livelihood and businesses had been destroyed with many people displaced and in pitiable conditions.

 

In Delta State, a visit by one of our correspondents to Uzere in Isoko South showed how farmers watched helplessly as their farms were washed away by the flood. Apart from submerged houses, rendering several persons homeless, fish farmers watched as their ponds were overrun by the flood.

 

A farmer and youth leader representing Uzere under Isoko National Youth Assembly, Alex Emezana, said famers in the area lost everything to the floods.

 

He stated, “We survive on our farm produce but the water has destroyed everything. It’s a very serious one. It happens every year.

 

“Everyone is stranded. Fish farmers have lost their fishes. Poultry farmers have lost their birds. Even the fishermen are bereft of ideas on how to fish because the water current has made it difficult for them to make good catches. Crop farmers are the worst of all. Cassava, yam and others have been submerged and we have not harvested anything. This will lead to food scarcity next year.”

 

One of our correspondents sighted stranded residents waiting to escape the floods.

 

At Oko in Oshimili South and Abala in Ndokwa East, farms are also submerged.

 

The king of Abala Kingdom, Fredrick Egbunokonye, who was constrained to leave his palace due to the flood, said farmland had been submerged.

 

Speaking in Asaba, the monarch said, “The flood has been a major issue because the communities are submerged. On the other hand, most people are not eager to relocate because of their farms. We were able to evacuate those ready to relocate.

 

“We are still pleading with those reluctant to relocate, but most of them borrowed to invest in the farm. Most people are still in the villages. The flood is overwhelming; we need the federal and state governments to assist the council because the entire Ndokwa East is submerged. Abala-Oshimili is the worst hit, the flood is at the roof level.”

 

He appealed to the Federal Government to take the issue of dredging the River Niger seriously as a solution to the annual flood.

 

Also speaking, the Onowu of the kingdom, Chike Ugwunmadu, said about 90 per cent of Abala-Oshimili was presently under water, while the President-General of Abala clan, Fidelis Ogbuji, noted that the worth of farm produce damaged by the flood would be about N1bn “and we are still in harvest period.”

 

He warned this would cause food scarcity in 2023 because of the submerged unharvested crops.

 

Losses huge – Commissioner

 

The Delta State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr Godfrey Enita, said he inspected 100 hectares of rice farm taken over by flood at the Benin-Owena River Basin Authority in Ngegwu, Ajaji-Illah, Oshimili North LGA. He described the loss as colossal.

 

He noted, “When the report got to me, I did not know it was of such magnitude. More than 70 per cent of the entire rice farm land is under water. These are people the government should encourage, particularly those who invested much only to experience this huge loss due to flooding.”

 

Enita gave an assurance that the state would liaise with appropriate authorities to support the farmers so they could remain in business. He said the loss could discourage farmers if they were not assisted.

 

He said discourse around flooding was crucial to food security.

 

Delta varsity shut

 

However, owing to the flood that has affected most parts of the institution, the state Commissioner for Higher Education, Dr Kingsley Ashibuogwu, announced the immediate closure of the Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro.

 

The commissioner during an assessment on Friday expressed shock over the impact of the flood on the university, noting that students would be safely evacuated. Some faculties, the Health Centre, library and other facilities were affected.

 

The Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, Dr Michael Tidi, in a statement cautioned residents against habits capable of plunging the upland and coastal plains into avoidable flood crisis.

 

Benue farmers groan

 

In Benue State, which is the Food Basket of the Nation, no fewer than 11 LGAs including Guma, Katsina Ala, Makurdi, Tarka, Gboko, Gwer West and Logo were affected by the flood. Some farmers in the state lamented the devastating effects of the flood.

 

A commercial rice farmer, Mr Vitalis Tarnongo, who lost 170 hectares of farmland, described the flood as devastating. “What do you want me to say,” he said. “This is very devastating. The whole 175 hectares of land where I planted rice was completely submerged.

 

“The economy of production stood at N364,000 per hectare, translating to the sum of N63,700,000.”

 

The chairman of the state chapter of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Aondoana Saku, said, “The reason some of us take to farming is to be able to pay our bills. Before, we were contending with herders but now it’s flooding. We have lost so much and we can’t quantify it now.”

 

He warned that food scarcity was imminent while calling on Nigerians to assist the farmers.

 

Niger farmers lament

 

In Niger State, nine out of the 25 LGAs have been ravaged by floods leading to the destruction of farmland. The affected LGAs include Lavun, Rafi, Kontagora, Wushishi, Magama, Lapai and Mokwa.

 

A resident of Magama LGA, Ibrahim Abubakar, lamented the loss he suffered, “After the heavy rainfall that lasted two days, many of our farms were submerged, which led to the loss of our crops,” he added.

 

Another farmer, Gana Mako, in Mokwa LGA also said he lost his rice farm while his neighbours lost their livestock to the flood.

 

In Edo State, a farmer from Anegbette community in Edo North, Obomighe Lawani, said the flood totally damaged his farm and expressed doubt whether he would recover from the loss. He said he took loans to expand his business wondering where he would get funds to repay some of the loan this year.

 

He said, “What happened was a big problem and I never envisaged this. This will definitely lead to food shortage except measures are taken. Most of us take loans to expand our operations and I am sure the effect of the flooding is of great concern to us. We have to service the loans.”

 

For Paul Omokhai from Udaba community, the flood destroyed all he had worked for this year. He said it would be difficult to recover from the loss.

 

He added, “This is a big loss for me and to many others whose farms were overtaken by the flood. I only hope that it doesn’t push some of us to depression. Unfortunately, this will lead to food shortage.”

 

In Plateau State, a resident of Jom community in Kanam LGA, Hajara Yinusa, whose farmland was destroyed by the flood lamented the situation.

 

He stated, “After the flood destroyed our farmland, some officials from the LGA came to inspect the damage promising to assist us with relief materials to alleviate our suffering. But since then, we have not heard from them.

 

“From the destruction caused by the flood in many farms across communities, I fear there may be acute hunger in the affected communities if nothing is done to assist them.”

 

AFAN demands intervention

 

Meanwhile, the National Secretary, All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Yunusa Yabwa, has called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on the sector.

 

He said, “Based on reports from the states, it has affected thousands of hectares of farmland. We are seeing there will be a serious increase in the price of rice next year.

 

“In Olam farms alone in Nasarawa State, the flood wiped away about 15,000 hectares of farm. That would cause a very big problem, so the government has to come in. I have never seen this kind of flood. Farmers are suffering nationwide.

 

“Government and companies have to encourage dry season production. If our main production is during the rainy season, there will be a lot of calamity and food crises. That’s why we keep encouraging people to learn to do dry season farming; the irrigation system of farming.

 

“The rain and flood are destroying even maize, beans and other food crops, so it’s not only rice, the government needs to come in and look at it holistically to see how we can curtail the problem.”

 

Youth farmers groan

 

Also, the President, Nigerian Young Farmers Association, Promise Amahah, described the feedback from farmers as disturbing.

 

Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, Amahah said although grain farmers had harvested some of their yield, others, especially fish farmers lost a lot of their fish to the flood.

 

He added, “Government should set up an agricultural emergency management system where issues are being addressed properly.”

 

“I fear that by December, the price of (bag of) rice may go as high as N100,000, Hunger is a catalyst for insecurity and crime. The absence of grains will continue to affect the price of bread as well.”

 

In the same vein, the National President, Nigerian Agro Allied Farmers Association, Lizzy Igbine, said, “We started the harvesting of maize in August, so most of the maize is not in the farms. The problem is cassava, and grains like millet and sorghum. These are on the farm. This flooding has affected people will lose money.

 

“We don’t have that data, but people have really lost a lot.”

 

Speaking on the fears of scarcity in the country, she said, “Soon, the impact will be felt.

(Punch)