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By Young Erhiurhoro, Warri
It is no longer news that ravaging floods have added to the economic woes and hardship of the people of the Niger Delta region in Nigeria. The recent tale is from the farmers of Uwheru kingdom in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.
Narrating their ordeal on behalf of other farmers in the community, a notable farmer and businesswoman in the community, Chief (Mrs.) Florence Oyibokure said, “Farming is our main occupation in Uwheru kingdom. Both men and women here are into farming. It’s our means of livelihood. Many are into subsistence farming while others are into commercial farming. Our farming work is mainly food crops like cassava, sweet potatoes, plantain, banana, groundnut and other food crops. Few people are into mechanised agriculture where they have poultries, fish ponds and other agro activities. For instance, I’m into food crops production like other farmers too.
“Many of us usually take loans with high interest rates from individuals, co-operative societies, microfinance banks and other commercial banks to do this farming business every year. After investment on the farming business, we always meet loss at the end of the year because of this flood. This year is unusual because the loss on our farm produce was much. All our farmlands we suffered to plant with cassava and sweet potatoes were swept away by this flood. Many of us today are in huge debts. How are we going to manage the loans we took from the various lending institutions?”
“This is why we are calling on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) of the Federal Government and the Delta State Emergency Management Agency (DESMA) to quickly come to our aid.
“We always hear of the support NEMA is giving to farmers especially in the North during this flood period. NEMA has put up different agro and social programmes to support flood victims. In fact, we haven’t benefited from any of these programmes. I have been doing this farming business for many years now. No financial support has come to us here from either the federal or the state government. In the same way, we are pleading with the federal ministry of agriculture to give us agro loans to boost our farming business in Uwheru town. It’s our right as legitimate citizens of this country.”
Another young farmer who didn’t want his name in print said: “In my own opinion, I won’t blame the Buhari government for every calamity we are passing through here. As the president of the country, I believe there is even distribution of projects and programmes across the country.
“My blame will rather go to those representing us in the government. These agro loans are readily available every farming season in the country. When the northern representatives disclose their own to those that need them, our own representatives will give them to their loyalists and pocket the rest.
“For instance, as a young graduate, I decided to venture into agriculture because there are no jobs in the country. I borrowed money to start the farming business only to run at huge debts because of this flood. Without government support, how do you think I can have the interest to go into farming again? This is why our representatives in the government should show us the way on how to access the government agro loans that are released to support farmers especially young people like myself. Now we are ready to go into farming, but the capital to start is not available to us.
“Outside farming business, there are many flood victims in the whole of Uwheru kingdom. No IDP camps for those victims and no support from the Delta State government, even as we speak. These are the activities of government that are infuriating the anger of the youths to embark on these protests. The Delta State government should do something now,” he said.
