Farmers Co-Operative Solicits For Assistance

Saddened by the losses in
curred by its members at last year’s flooding, the Ijedhe  farmers co-operative of Ula-Upata in the Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State has called on the state and local government to come to the aid of its members.
Speaking with our correspondent over the weekend, the President of the body, Mr Alex Okirigwe said due to the warnings by metrological agencies of impending flooding in 2013, the farmers did not cultivate their over two hectres of farm land in the last farming.
Okingwe who said the crops they lost at the last flood which include cassava, plantain, yam and banana among other traditional crops were scarce today among the farmers.
According to him, the occurrence which has impoverished farmers of the association has forced most of them to go into borrowing to make ends meet.
He said the Ijedhe Farmers Co-operatives was made up of peasant farmers who despite their number has a weak capital base.
The co-operative president said most of the victims who also lost their houses were yet to erect new ones as they now squat with friends and extended relations, a situation he described as pathetic.
“Most of those who were camped at different locations were the same people whose houses were sub- merged last year.Today they don’t have were to live in as they manage with friends and family members of the community”, he said.
However, Mr Okirigwe  expressed gratitude to the Ahoada East and West LGA for the aid offered her members last year even as he urged them not to forget them at their hour of need.
On the expected 2013, flooding, Okirigwe said his members were always prayerful with the hope that even if the flood comes again it would not be of the magnitude of last year’s.