Floods Submerge Farmlands In Rivers

Following recent flooding that have submerged farmlands in
parts of Rivers State in the past few weeks, government has been advised to
take measures to cushion the effects on the rural farmers.

Making the call in an interview with The Tide in Port
Harcourt, Monday, a retired director in the Rivers State Ministry of
Agriculture, Mr. Fred Nwokocha said that hunger was imminent in the near
future.

He said the unexpected flooding had submerged farms while
farmers have lost their entire crops which he said could not be quantified.

He said while the farmers practice subsistence farming and
harvest in bits to meet their various needs, the flood had altered this
arrangement.

Mr. Nwokocha lamented the plight of the farmers whom he said
would now be compelled to harvest their crops especially cassava massively not
minding if they were mature or not.

He further explained that the development would affect the
economic base of the farmers as they would be forced to sell their produce at
give away prices with nothing left for future use.

“It is through their farms that they eat, pay school fees
for their children and buy books and now the flooding has changed all that for
them”, he said.

According to him, if the National and State Emergency
Management authorities do not take urgent steps to cushion the flooding on the
affected communities in the state, hunger and health emergencies could not be
ruled out.

He further called on the State Ministry of Agriculture and
health to take measures aimed at providing food and medicine to the affected
communities.