Elder Wants Govt To Assist farmers

An opinion leader and elder from Ula-Upata in the Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State Mr. Waneri Okirigwe has called on the government to come to the aid of farmers in his area.

Mr. Okirigwe who lost more than three hectres of cassava farm to the 2012 flooding said so far, efforts to stand on his feet has not been successful.

He said due to the long process of accessing funds from the banks in order to cultivate on a large scale requires collateral he has not been able to regain what he has lost.

Commenting on the expected flood in 2013 which did not come, Waneri said it was a typical case of man proposing and God disposing.

However he opined that the lack of rain and the flood may even spell doom for farmers.

“Already there was no rain during the raining season and the dry season is already on ground.

“So I am afraid if what will happen can be likened to the opposite of what the flood did not bring”, he feared.

He expressed the need for the youth to be involved in farming to avoid being used by politicians even as he said any investment in farming would always be rewarded.

He explained further that before last years flood he has never bought garri or plantain for a good number of years.

“It is only after last year’s flood that I began buying garri and plantain.

“Infact it is a very strange thing for me and my family because the one we buy can not be as good as the one we used to fry”, he said.

However while lamenting his losses in the last flood, he expressed happiness that a few crops he planted around his house supply his family needs as at when due.

“At least these pears, oranges  and guava and the rest around my house give us some respite in their season”, he said.