Some rural farmers in flood-impacted areas of Rivers State have called on the state government to assist them with loans to enable them to return to their business when the floods recede.

Investigation by The Tide revealed that several communities, including farmlands in Abua/Odual, Ahoada West, Ahoada East and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni council areas of the state, were devastated by flood.

The farmers, who spoke to newsmen at Abarikpo in Ahoada East and Mbiama in Ahoada West council areas, said the call was necessary to alert the government on the need for such assistance.

They said that any possible food scarcity which the flood might cause, could be averted, if farmers were given the necessary encouragement to cultivate their lands when the floods recede.

Mr Jonathan Amachree, a yam farmer in Mbiama in Ahoada West LGA, lamented that his farm was washed away, adding that his entire investment on the farm had gone down the drain.

“For a small-scale farmer like me, picking up after the flood will be difficult except government comes to my aid.“The foodstuffs consumed by the people around this area come from the rural farmers, so something seriously has to be done for them,’’ he said.

Another farmer, Chukuladi Egba from Abua/Odual LGA, who claimed he lost his plantain farm to the flood, said that giving loans to farmers affected by the disaster would ensure the availability of food.

“Something can still be done; it is true that we have lost our investments; we can still go back to our farms with the support of government,’’ he said.

Also speaking, Mrs Chika Ukeh, a farmer in Abarikpo in Ahoada East LGA, said the intervention of government or other support agencies would save the people from hunger and food shortage.

“Natural occurrences such as flooding cannot be ruled out, but it is not the end; life must go on; so farmers need to be encouraged,’’ she said.