Tag: Farmers

Famine looms, as Kano rice farmers face poor harvest

Aminu Imam

…Says drought affects early farming As Kano State and its counterparts in the North continue to look forward to continuous rainfall, farmers have been recording poor crop harvests especially of rice and other grains, which rely on water for bumper yields. Rice, which requires consistent water supply, has been left without the usual daily rainfalls for several weeks and the plants are drying out. In areas where the farms are located close to water sources such as rivers, ponds and boreholes, farmers have adopted these water sources to irrigate their…

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Hunger imminent, as rice farmers face drought in Kano

Aminu Imam

As climate change continues to worsen in the northern parts of Nigeria, weeks without rainfall in Kano have resulted in many farmers losing their crops, especially rice. Rice, which requires consistent water supply, has been left without the usual daily rainfalls for several weeks and the plants are drying out. In some places where the farms are located close to water sources like rivers, ponds and water channels, or even boreholes, farmers are seen using the sources to water their farms, a very unusual sight during the wet season. The…

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Katsina: Farmers lament, as bandits impose tax, prevent them from farming

Aminu Imam

As the insecurity occasioned by rural banditry bites harder, farmers in Katsina State are lamenting about the activities of bandits which prevent them from going to their farms to cultivate food items. According to some residents in some local governments in the State, they have either abandoned their farms or resort to forceful payment of taxes to bandits. According to the State government, some 5,884 farmlands were abandoned due to the attacks.  From January to June 2021 alone, according to the government, 23,333 hectres of 2,924 farmlands have been abandoned.…

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Zulum inaugurates 1000 hunters to protect farmers from insurgents

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

Governor Babagana  Zulum of Borno has inaugurated 1000 volunteer hunters to complement the efforts of security agencies in protecting farmers against attacks in their farms. With the return of relative peace, some farmers have expanded their activities in the outskirts of Maiduguri and neighbouring Jere, Mafa and Konduga LGAs. Addressing the hunters at a ceremony in Khaddamari village on Thursday, Zulum lauded them for the sacrifice in supporting his administration to sustain peace and security in the state. Zulum assured them of logistic support and monthly allowances to ginger them in…

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Jigawa Smallholder Women Farmers Yearn for Digital Technology to the Rescue of Their Farm Products

Aminu Imam

From Khadija-Ishaq-Bawas Farming used to be traditionally viewed as a male-dominated occupation, with little input from women in supporting their families to grow crops and raise livestock. However, lately, a lot of women are breaking the bounds of this notion and engaging in agricultural production across Nigeria, despite gender-related impediments. For Bilkisu Yahaya, a happily married, all-year-round rice and onion smallholder farmer in Birnin-Kudu local government area (LGA) of Jigawa State, the challenges are numerous; however, the main worry lies in gaining access to the market for the end product…

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Anger, shock trails 43 farmers killed by insurgents, buried amid tears, wailing

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

Anger and shock have continue to trail the killing of some 43 rice farmers killed on Saturday by insurgents at Koshebe village in the Jere Local Government Area of Borno State The farmers were buried on Sunday amid wailing and tears by residents of the community. Most Nigerians on social media are berating the government for failure to protect the poor, innocent Nigerians who demand nothing from the government, but just security. From Twitter to Facebook to Instagram, most Nigerians, especially northerners said it is high time the government took…

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Senate assures farmers in northwest of increased security budget

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

Senate Committee on Nigerian Army, has lauded the military over its commitment in ensuring restoration of farming activities in the northwest, and pledged increased security budget to effectively tackle challenges. The Committee leader, Senator Ali Ndume, made the commendation during an oversight visit to the 8th Division of the Nigerian Army, Sokoto. Ndume described the current budgetary allocation to the Nigerian Army as grossly inadequate, considering the huge security challenges bedeviling the country. He said the military was always on the warfront executing different operations, aimed at safeguarding the country…

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AFAN assures Nigerians of sufficient rice ahead of yuletide

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has assured Nigerians of sufficient supply of local rice ahead of the yuletide. Kabir Ibrahim, AFAN National President said this while speaking on Monday on the availability of rice during the yuletide. Ibrahim said that farmers have been directed to embark on dry season farming to bridge the supply gap and increase production. He said that AFAN was relying on raining season production to have sufficient supply adding that farmers would soon begin harvest of the commodity. According to him, the only thing…

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Farmers will reap benefits of our policies – Buhari

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that Nigerian farmers stand to reap the benefits of his government’s reforms as he continues to accord the highest priority to agriculture. Malam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, in a statement in Abuja on Friday, said Buhari stated this at a meeting with Katsina State Elders Forum in Abuja.  The president, who described agriculture as the country’s largest employer of labour and engine of growth, said his administration would continue to take steps to enhance output and productivity.…

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