Flood destroys 600 hectares rice farms in Ondo

NO fewer than 600 hectares of rice farms had been destroyed by flood in Uso/Ogbese community of Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State.

This was disclosed on Wednesday by the Coordinator of the Rice farmers under the aegis of Federated FADAMA Rice Association, Mr Olayinka Labiran, who explained that rice farmers in that area were worst hit by the flood.

He lamented that the flooding would affect their drive towards ensuring sufficiency of rice production and food security in the country, saying millions of Naira had been lost to the flood.

According to him, the association was working towards making available rice available in large quantity before the persistent torrential rain which destroyed most of the rice farms in the area.

He disclosed that they can no longer access their farms as the entire area has been flooded, noting that the rice which is in their fruiting stage and should be ready for harvest in October had been destroyed.

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He said no fewer than 373 farmers were affected losing millions of Naira to the flood saying at least about four thousand tonnes would have been harvested from the farm.

He lamented that the farmers who are under the Federal Government Central Bank of Nigeria Anchor Borrowers scheme through the Bank of Agriculture would find it difficult in repaying back the loan, saying the whole farms had been completely submerged by the flood

He said though the loan was insured, he called on the state and Federal Government to assist the farmers and urged some of the insurance company to come and see the havoc wrecked on the farms.

He said: “The last 72 hours have been hectic, I had to go and check my blood pressure. We never expected this. I have been farming in this area for close to a decade.

He called on both the governmental and non-governmental agencies to come to their aid saying they secured loan so that they could key into Federal government rice policy.

Also, coordinator of Elfash group, Mr Toyin Fasakin, group farm in Eleyowo has been submerged in water and solicited for government assistance to cushion the effect of the loss.

He lamented farmers have been prevented from going to their farms for the past ten days while roads leading to the farms had also been destroyed, calling for a permanent solution to the challenges.