Some farmers in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe on Tuesday urged their governments to adopt new strategies to tackle crop theft and insurgents’ attacks ahead of the farming season.
The farmers made the appeal when responding to a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) survey on their challenges ahead of the rainy season.
Alhaji Umar Mohammed, a farmer in Jakusko of Yobe, said that farmers had experienced several attacks by Boko Haram insurgents and crop theft during the last cropping season.
“There were also cases of levies being imposed on farmers by the insurgents.
“If a farmer resists, he or she stands the risk of being attacked or abducted by the insurgents for ransom,” Mohammed said.
Mr Paul Ogaji, a farmer in Mutai, said that N16 million worth of sorghum was stolen from his farm on October 15, 2024.
“The thieves came in the night and harvested about 80 per cent of mature sorghum. They loaded it in a vehicle and fled.
“By my estimation, they took about 180 bags of the crop. What they left behind was not more than 20 bags.
“The market value of a bag of sorghum at that time was N75,000,” he said.
Alhaji Usman Ngari, the Yobe branch Chairman of the Nigerian All Farmers Association, said the recent upsurge in crop theft was unprecedented in the state.
“In my 35 years of commercial farming, crop theft mostly involved sesame and beans’ farms.
“But what we are witnessing is a new normal because thieves now steal all kinds of crops, posing a threat to the livelihood of farmers.
“The situation has become alarming as many farmers now spend days and nights on farms to protect their crops,” he said.
Ngari appealed to security agencies in the state to intensify farm patrols as part of measures to contain the challenge and protect the farmers’ means of livelihood.
Alhaji Babagana Kolo, a farmer at Dikumari, however, called on Yobe government to assist farmers by subsidising fertiliser.
“NPK fertiliser now goes for N35,000, which is on the high side and beyond the reach of a low income farmer.
“I am appealing to the state government to subsidise fertiliser and other farm inputs to assist low income farmers,” he said.
Meanwhile, farmers have begun clearing farmlands and planting early crops such as maize, millet and sorghum in Adamawa.
Malam Hamza Iliya, a local farmer in Girei Local Government Area (LGA), said the rains arrived earlier than expected, prompting many young people to return from cities like Yola and Mubi.
“We have started planting maize and sorghum because the soil has started getting soft because of the rain.
“Our worry is whether there will be too much rain that could destroy our crops, or less rain that could cause drought, that we cannot say; we only trust God for a bountiful harvest,” Iliya said.
Mrs Victoria Nuhu, a farmer in Shelleng, expressed concern about the rising cost of agricultural inputs.
“Fertiliser and herbicides are still very expensive.
“Many of us may not be able to afford a large farmland or purchase farm inputs like fertiliser in a large quantity for our farms, which may affect our yields.
“We are calling on the government and other NGOs to support us this year to boost our production,” she said.
In response, Prof. David Jatau, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, said the government had invested N2 billion in the procurement of agricultural inputs ahead of farming season.
Jatau said the initiative would boost the agricultural sector by providing farmers and youths with essential farm inputs and expertise as they prepare for the season.
He said the inputs would be distributed across the 21 LGAs as part of the state’s agricultural intervention programme.
“One of the key policies of the government is the development of 300 hectares of farmland in each local government area, to be allocated to 300 youths to farm.
“They will receive inputs such as fertilisers, seeds and pesticides at subsidised rates and would retain the entire proceeds of their harvests,” Jatau said.
He said that the programme includes training farmers on climate-smart agriculture and soil testing.
Others include identifying soil texture and selecting the appropriate quantity and type of fertiliser to ensure optimal yield.
According to him, the initiative is expected to increase crop yields, improve food security, and enhance the livelihoods of residents.
Meanwhile, the situation in Borno was quite different from that of Adamawa and Yobe because not many communities could freely go to their farms and carry out the normal farming activities because of insurgents’ attacks.
A reliable source from th Ministry of Agriculture, told NAN that the state government had spent a lot of money to support rural farmers but the farmers have not been able to access their farms due last to fear of being attacked.
However, a number of farmers in Maiduguri opted for dry season farming because of the security within the farming areas being closer to the capital city.
Some farmers, especially in the areas of Bukar and Babagana, mostly dry-season farmers, said the situation is dire.
The farmers also said they rely heavily on the Alau Dam for irrigation, and the collapse of the dam had left them without a means of livelihood.
They are among many in the community who are urging the government to expedite the reconstruction process before the rainy season begins.
“We depend on this dam for our crops. Since the collapse, we have lost everything. The government must act swiftly to repair the dam before the rains come,” said Bukar, a farmer from Maiduguri.
Another farmer, Babagana Shettima, said “If the dam is not fixed in time, many of us who depend on it for our crops will be left without income.
“This is a serious issue that needs immediate attention. We rely on the water for our livelihoods, and without it, we have no way to sustain ourselves.”
He warned that heavy rainfall is expected across much of the country, including Borno State, which will increase the chances of flooding in vulnerable areas like Maiduguri.(NAN)
