Farmers seek help as floods wipe out 995 rice farms in Jigawa
CHIGOZIE AMADI
Heavy, persistent rainfall in Babura Local Government Area of Jigawa State has destroyed approximately 995 rice farms across 16 villages in Kuzunzumi ward alone, local sources confirmed on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Abdurahman MaiKano, spokesperson for the affected communities, warned that the flooding could trigger food shortages and wipe out livelihoods.
“This disaster has put many families at risk. We urgently appeal to the state government and relevant agencies to come to our aid and alleviate the hardship,” he said.
The villages hit hardest include Kwagga/Martini, Fadibara, Kuzunzumi, Jikan Kanwa/Fulani, Dangaigai, Dankarda, Karfawa/Kanawa, Burukum Gari, Sabuwar Baka, Shashatu, Burukum Fulani, and Kurtulla.
Residents are calling for immediate relief, agricultural support, and long-term flood control measures to prevent future destruction.
Some farmers described the floods as an almost yearly ordeal.
Suraja Muhammad said, “We face these challenges every year. The government needs to engage experts to help prevent and control these recurrent floods.”
Musa, another farmer, lamented that the floods had wiped out vast hectares of rice farms, a vital staple and source of income.
“This not only threatens farmers’ incomes but also raises fears of a wider food crisis ahead,” he said, adding that without urgent intervention, the next planting season could be severely affected.
The Babura Local Government Chairman, Hamisu Garu, has reportedly sent a delegation to visit the affected communities and sympathise with the distressed farmers.
The Zonal Information Officer for Babura LGA, Daudu Sulaiman, noted, “The flooding has dealt a severe blow to farmers and threatens food security in the region. The resilience of Babura’s farming communities is being severely tested.”
Local leaders and farmers continue to call for swift government action to mitigate losses and prevent a repeat of the devastation in future rainy seasons.
