The Nation Newspaper

Tag: farmlands

  • Flood sacks 116 villages in Niger, washes away farmlands

    Flood sacks 116 villages in Niger, washes away farmlands

    No fewer than 116 villages and 100 hectares of farmland have been washed away by flood in Kede Community, a suburb of  Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State.

    The affected farmlands are part of the  FADAMA intervention programme which has 100 farmers in 10 clusters across 150 villages.

    One of the villagers whose house and farmland were affected, Yahaya Adamu Muregi, said that flood incident is not strange to the people  as the village has been experiencing the challenge on annual basis since the creation of  Jebba and Kanji dams.

    He disclosed that the farmers of the FADAMA 111 farmlands that were washed away had just been given farm inputs for better harvest regretting that the flood washed everything away.

    Muregi said that the people are ready to resettle in another community to forestall further loss of properties yearly. He called  on the government to develop a resettlement programme.

    Another victim, Alhaji Attahiru Isah, said the people currently have no means of livelihood adding: “There is no food to eat nor  houses for us  to sleep in.

    He  appealed for urgent government intervention to alleviate the sufferings of the people in the affected villages.

    The Chairman of Niger State Traditional Council and Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar,lamented the level of destruction caused by the flood  which he described  “as very unfortunate.”

    The Etsu Nupe urged the authorities to urgently come to the aid of the victims to alleviate their plight.  He regretted that the expectations of bumper harvest have  been dashed by the flood.

  • Flood sacks 12 communities, destroys 3,000 farmlands in Cross River

    Flood sacks 12 communities, destroys 3,000 farmlands in Cross River

    Twelve communities in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River have been flooded, following two days of heavy rain. More than 3,000 farmlands were destroyed.

    The incident, which occurred between September 18 and 19, rendered hundreds homeless, with property worth millions destroyed.

    Mr John Inaku, director general, Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), told NAN on Sunday, during an inspection that that more than 1,000 have been displaced and are taking refuge.

    According to him, the state has promised to address the plight of the people.

    NAN reports that some of the communities affected are Bago, Unu, Bagabo, Bakie, Bufua, and Kakwe-Beebo.

    “The deluge of Sept. 18 and 19 has caused massive flooding in 12 communities in Cross River.

    “Property worth millions of naira were destroyed in the process.

    “The flood also destroyed farmlands; banana, cassava, plantain, yam, cocoa and others were affected, with bridges washed away.

    “The worst aspect of the flood is that it also destroyed streams, which served as the only source of drinking water for the people, while the main access road was washed away as a result of landslide,’’ he said.

    One of the victims, Mr Bette Obi, chairman of Cross River Forestry Commission, told NAN that the flood wreaked serious havoc on residents.

    Obi, who said his cocoa and plantain farms were destroyed, appealed to the state and Federal Government to come to their aid.

    “As we speak, our farmlands have been washed away by flood. The streams where we fetch water for drinking has been polluted.

    “We need government’s assistance in our communities to ameliorate our plight,’’ Obi said.

    Another victim, Mr Gabriel Ofre, traditional ruler of Bago community, said that the flood displaced his household, and that his property and other vital materials also gone.

    Ofre appealed to SEMA and NEMA to come to their aid, saying that residents were peasant farmers, who lived on the meagre earnings from their farm produce.

  • Soaring cost of farmlands impedes new investors

    The pressure on available farmlands across the South western  part of the country  has pushed cost go up almost quadruple in the last three years, challenging the capacities of prospective young farmers and new agric investors.

    Farmland values  in some parts of  Ogun and Oyo states  have  risen by  100 per cent. In some places such as Ifo and Papa in Ogun State, an acre of farmland now sells for between N800,000 and N1million as against N150,000 and N250,000 it was sold three or four years ago.

    In places near the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and Moor Plantain around Iwo area of Ibadan, Oyo State, an acre of farmland goes for between N350,000 and N750,000. It was learnt that the demand for   farmland has hit the rooftops.

    Demand for farmland to purchase has seen land prices rise by up to 20 per cent and this economic activity is only likely to increase as farmers’ seek lands outside of the Lagos axis, with farmland in places such Akpara  are priced  for N1.5 million per acre.

    Following increasing shift to food production by serving and retired executives, investment  activity in farming business is at a cracking pace in most areas of the Southwest.

    A leading farm land consultant in Ogbomosho ,Oyo State ,Debo Thomas told The Nation that there is a big increase in demand and very strong competition for prime farmland. Potential purchasers of this type of land are pressured  to  pay  more  as  such plots are no longer affordable in  Lagos and township areas of Ogun State.

    Although a sluggish economy  is putting pressure on farm incomes, the prospects for those investing in tenanted farmland continue to look attractive  and stakeholders believe the  cost of prime land  will continue rise  this year.  Not just for big corporate bodies, it was learnt that wealthy Nigerians are looking to invest in farmland  and this  has not brought  comfort to young farmers and others who wish to purchase their own farm. The influx of new agricultural investors is pushing prices for vacant possession land beyond the reach of new farmers who want to own the land they farm.

    Thomas  has  seen an increase in enquiries and purchases from big time investors from Lagos seeking  acres of land in Ogbomosho, an area  they considered  affordable with an acre still goiing for as low as N150,000 per  acre. Prospective farmers now see coming to farm in the area a good bargain  as they take advantage of a wide differential between the high prices per acre in Lagos and there.

  • Niger Republic’s emirate ‘confiscates’ Nigerians’ farmlands

    •Jigawa border residents seek Fed Govt’s intervention

    An Emirate in Niger Republic has allegedly confiscated over 86 farmlands owned by residents of Jobi border community in Maigatari Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

    Residents in the area, who petitioned the member of House of Representatives representing the area, Alhaji Muhammed Sani Zoro, said “the bilateral agreement between Nigeria and Niger Republic may  be in serious crisis owing to the land issue.”

    They said their farmlands straddled between Maigatari in Jigawa State and Dingas local government area of Damagaram State in Niger Republic.

    The people accused the Niger Republic emirate of confiscating the over farmlands legitimately owned by them in the neighbouring country for over 100 years.

    The Jobi community also accused the Niger Republic’s traditional rulers of using the country’s security agents to intimidate and arrest them during attempts to claim their farmlands.

    But Sani Zoro, who was accompanied by reporters, paid fact-finding visit to the area at the weekend and met with the community leaders and affected farmers.

    One of the community leaders and the village’s Chief Imam, Malam Abdullahi Danlaminu, said the two border communities were leaving in peace and owned farmlands in the two countries since the “period of their grand, great grandparents”. He explained that “about two to three years ago, the Niger Republic traditional rulers stopped us from farming on our lands. At the early stage, we did not take it serious because they (Nigeriens) have farmlands on our side in Nigeria. We tried to resolve it amicably.

    “We sent a delegation comprising the village head, myself and met their traditional leaders to discuss and resolve the matter. We agreed and they asked for some amount to be paid annually. But to our surprise after we came back, they changed the decision.”

    He said over half of their farm lands, which they inherited and some which they bought before the partitioning of the countries are now in Niger Republic.

    Danlaminu added:  “We own this farmlands. But for the last two years, the Dingas Emirate of Niger Republic embarked on illegal confiscation of our farmlands, which now create untold hardship to our people who are 100 per cent peasant farmers.

    “As a result of this land confiscation, about six people of our people lost their lives due to the trauma inflicted on them by the action.”

    The representative of the community’s village head, Malam Mustaha Imam, added that their representatives visited Dingas Emirate for over 30 times to plead with their traditional authorities to stop the confiscation, “but all in vain”.

    “Some of our people who attempted to resist the confiscation of their land, were arrested and detained by the Niger Republic security,” he said.

    Imam called on Nigeria’s border management agencies and all other relevant agencies to intervene.

    The community handed a document comprising the list of farmlands confiscated and their owners to Sani Zoro for action.

    But the lawmaker pleaded with the residents to be more patient and not to take law in their hands to allow the authorities of the two countries resolve the matter through diplomacy.

  • Concerns mount over foreigners’ acquisition of farmlands

    A surge in the purchase of land,  agro businesses to grow food and other crops for export  in  various parts of the  country  has raised concerns.

    Attracted by high economic growth rates and propelled by a lack of new opportunities, huge global food and agriculture companies are working to gain access to vast areas of land in Nigeria.

    This    follows   growing demand for food production and agriculture-related industrial products. While  some  watchers believe foreign  companies  coming  to  establish large scale  agribusinesses  would  boost food  production, others are of the opinion it  could severely  impair the ability  of  local  farmers to feed themselves.

    One  of these is  the President, National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN), Tola Faseru.

    He  sees this differently.

    Speaking  with The Nation, Faseru   said there is heightened concern about food security in the face of a growing  population.

    This,he  said,  required cultivation of  more  land  for  food production.

    He explained that the nation has 84 million area of arable land and only 40 percent is being utilised.

    For this reason, he said the nation needs foreign investment.

    Faseru  said   that   foreign land acquisitions would raise food production and broaden economic growth.

     

  • ‘Town leaders have sold women’s farmlands’

    ‘Town leaders have sold women’s farmlands’

    The men have had their way but one woman, at least, is speaking out against their action. Since leaders of Amankwo Eke Town Union in Udi Local Government Area, Enugu State, sold 20 acres of land to an industrialist, Chief Loretta Aniagolu, an activist and politician, has continued to oppose the sale. Aniagolu, a two-time governorship aspirant in the state, argues that the sale has denied women their right to farmlands, considering that in the community it is mostly women who farm. The men mostly tap wine from palms. She also believes the land sale underscores the aged practice of overlooking women’s inheritance rights.

    The executives of Amankwo Town Union sold off the land to an industrialist for the purpose of building a factory. Aniagolu questioned the logic and propriety of selling the vast land without considering that majority of the women of the Eke community directly depend on land for sustenance.

    She said she was not against establishing an industry in the area, only that selling off such a vast area would deprive the women of the community of their source of livelihood.

    Her protest was dismissed by the leaders of the community on the grounds that women in Igbo land have no say in matters relating to land. They advised her to “shut up” and mind her business as the community had already taken its decision.

    She went to court, not to challenge the sale of the land but for the court to declare whether or not females have a say in matters relating to land in Igbo land, particularly Amankwo Eke in Udi. The case came up on Monday for Judgement at the Enugu High Court.

    At the court, a group of women led by Mrs. Joy Ada Onyeso, president of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom were conspicuous in their red T-shirts with the inscription “Bring Back Our Girls”. .

    Onyeso spoke to our correspondent, saying: “This is a very interesting case because the case borders on the relevance of women in the society.  The case involves one of our partners, Chief Lorreta Aniagolu.  The thing about the case is that it is about the executives of the town union selling land to a man that wants to build a factory in Udi and they sold to him 20 hectares of land. Probably she is saying that…for prosperity case.  The critical thing for that case is because of the argument that she is a woman and she has no right to bring the case to court and she has no right to be in the decision making body of the community and that is very critical.

    “There was recent ruling by the supreme court that women have a right in whatsoever community to inherit both at common law and traditionally and for us, it is very very critical for a woman to be deprived of such right, and that’s why we are here in solidarity to hear what the judge has to say.  The case has been going on for a while now and today was supposed to be the final judgement.  However, the court could not sit today; it was postponed to the 30th of this month. So, on the 30th, we will be here again to listen to what the judgement will be.

    “This is a very interesting case because the case borders on the relevance of women in the society.  The case involves one of our partners, Chief Lorreta Aniagolu.  The thing about the case is that, it is a case about the executives of the Town Union selling land to a man that wants to build a factory in Udi and they sold to him 20 hectares of land. Probably she is saying that …for prospecting.  The critical thing for that because she is a woman she has no right to bring the case to court and she has no right to be in the decision making body of the community and that is very critical.

    “There was a recent ruling by the supreme court that women have a right in whatsoever community to inherit both at common law and traditionally and for us it is very, very critical for a woman to be deprived of such right, and that’s why we are here in solidarity to hear what the judge has to say.  The case has been going on for a while now and today was supposed to be the final judgement.  However, the court could not sit today; it was postponed to the 30th of this month. So, on the 30th we will be here again to listen to what the judgement will be.”

     

  • 10,000 farmlands destroyed by flood in Adamawa

    More than 10,000 farmlands were destroyed by flood in Adamawa State, following the release of water from Lagdo Dam in Cameroon Republic.

    The Federal Director of Agriculture in the state, Dr Walia Hamman, said in Yola that the flood affected almost half of the state, adding that thousands of farmlands were washed away and over 30,000 large-scale and small farmers directly affected.

    He urged the three tiers of government to urgently provide the enabling environment for irrigation farming, to mitigate the impact of the disaster on food production.

    “The only clear solution to avoid food crisis is for governments at all levels to urgently intervene and provide farmers with agricultural inputs and also create the enabling environment for them to practise irrigation farming.” Hamma said.

    Also reacting to the development, the project manager, Lake Geriyo irrigation project of the Upper Benue River Basin Development Authority, Yola, Mr D. Mamtso, said about 221 farmers were affected with an estimated 150 hectares of farmlands destroyed.

    “In all, 221 farmers from Lake Geriyo irrigation project in Yola North Local Government area have been identified with an estimate of 150 hectares affected by the recent flood.

    ”He said the farmers were in need of assistance in order to recover from the shock of the disaster.”

    Commissioner for Agriculture Mrs Lucy Ishaku expressed concern over the implication of the flood on the envisaged bumper harvest.

    Mrs Ishaku noted that the prices of foodstuffs had skyrocketed in markets across the state as an aftermath of the flood.

    ”Considering the price of foodstuff last year at this time, there is an indication of confusion in price of the food commodities now.”

     

     

     

     

    She said the people of the state had not experienced such a disaster in the past 40 years.

    Mrs Ishaku said that the ministry had initiated a census of farmlands affected by the flood, with a view to ascertaining the level of damage to agriculture and ways to assist the affected farmers to recoup through dry season farming.

    In a separate interview, Malam Abdullahi Tafida, the Chairman, Adamawa State Rice Farmers and Water User Sssociation, said that 75 per cent of members of the association lost their crops to the flood.

    ”Seventy five per cent of our members lost their crops completely as a result of the flood. And our members are engaged in both rainy and dry season farming of maize, rice and assorted vegetable.”

    He appealed to the federal, state and local governments to assist them with early maturing crop varieties, fertiliser, irrigation pumps and herbicides. “ These inputs will help us to start dry season farming immediately as the flood begins to recede,” Tafida said.