Expert Blames Insecurity For Food Shortage In Rivers

An Agriculturist, Mr Amadi Ejiogu, has stated that food shortage experienced in Rivers State is as a result of the feeling of insecurity among farmers in the State following invasion of their farms by Fulani herdsmen.
Noting that these invasions often result in killing, raping and maiming of the farmers, and destruction of crops, Ejiogu said as a result, many farmers in the State have decided to withdraw from going to farms in order not to risk their lives.
“Due to the fact that farmers no longer feel safe as a result of insecurity warranted by Fulani herdsmen who have taken over their farms and forests with their cattles, to the point of killing some farmers, they have decided to keep off their farms.
“Recently, a man from Umuechem was killed while on his farm in Egwi Community. He saw the cattles eating his crops and decided to approach the Fulani herdsmen, telling them to take the cattles away. It cost him his life”, he said
Ejiogu expresssed regrets that since 2019, when this food crisis and insecurity started to date, nothing has been done to remove Fulani herdsmen from the farms.
Attributing this to the current state of poor agricultural produce in the State, Ejiogu said “the agricultural activities that people of Rivers State, particularly Etche people, who specialise in the production of Garri, fufu, plantain, yam and vegetables in Rivers State, can no longer produce the normal quantity.
“It is believed, therefore, that insecurity in our rural areas has slowed down the pace of agricultural production. It has also pushed the oil companies to relocate to their base in Lagos, all of which has negatively affected the socio-economic life of Rivers people”, he said.
While expressing the hope that involvement in agriculture, which is a business capable of taking care of about 87 per cent of unemployment challenges in the state, can be improved upon by relevant authorities, particularly the state government.
Such involvement, among others, he said should include creating the enabling environment for involvement in agriculture, such as commiting to mechanised farming.
He urged both local governments and the State to do the needful by putting in place impactful farming programmes that can sustain same in order to encourage farmers, especially Rivers youth to go into mechanised farming.

By: Susan Serekara-Nwikhana