By Agency Reporter
Community Members Call for Urgent Assistance Amid Looming Hunger Crisis
Farmers in the Manchok community of Kaura Local Government Area in Kaduna State are lamenting the loss of crops worth millions of naira following alleged invasions by herdsmen. This unfortunate situation has left many farmers vulnerable to hunger and financial distress.
Significant Financial Losses Reported
Mrs. Martina David, a mother of four, shared her heartbreaking experience of investing nearly N1.3 million in sweet potato cultivation, only to see her investment wiped out within two days due to cattle destruction. She cultivated potatoes on 188 ridges across nearly four hectares, anticipating a harvest of at least 752 bags. With current market prices ranging between N17,000 and N20,000 per bag, her expected return was around N12.78 million.
In tears, she recounted, “When I visited my farm, I discovered that more than half of it was destroyed by cattle. I fell on my knees and cried, wondering how I would get out of this predicament. I created barriers to protect what was left, but when I returned the next day, all the potato plants had been wiped out.”
David appealed for assistance, expressing her concern about repaying the loan, especially as her husband is unable to farm due to illness.
Additional Damage to Farms
Another farmer, Mr. Ibrahim Yashim, reported a similar fate with his guinea corn crops. He invested approximately N730,000 to cultivate four hectares but found three of those hectares devastated by cattle. Yashim, a primary school teacher, explained that he expected to harvest around 40 bags of guinea corn, which could have yielded over N4.8 million.
“Upon returning home, my aged mother informed me that someone saw cows entering my farm. I was horrified to find that about half of my crops were destroyed. I sat down on the ground because my legs couldn’t hold me up,” he said.
Yashim reached out to the leader of the Fulani settlers in Manchok, Mr. Salisu Ibrahim, but was told that action could only be taken if the culprits were identified.
Growing Tensions and Calls for Action
La’ah Philemon, National Leader of the Youth Wing of the Moro’a Development Association, stated that approximately 39 farms have been destroyed by herders in the area. He warned of a “looming hunger” crisis and called for a ban on open grazing during the rainy season to help protect crops and foster peace between farmers and herders.
Philemon noted that with the rainy season coming to an end, replanting crops is becoming increasingly impossible. He highlighted that the ongoing confrontations between farmers and herders have escalated tensions, leading to violence, including the death of one farmer and injuries to three others.
Government and Community Responses
The District Head of Manchok, Mr. Ishaya Tabat, confirmed the incidents and mentioned that the traditional council is actively seeking sustainable solutions. He stated that several meetings have taken place with Fulani community leaders, resulting in an agreement for compensation to affected farmers.
The Ardo acknowledged the fruitful dialogue and assured farmers that compensation would be forthcoming. He also mentioned that security agencies are involved in addressing the issue of visiting herders who cause destruction in the community.
Conclusion
The situation in Manchok reflects a broader challenge faced by many farming communities in Nigeria, where conflicts between farmers and herders continue to threaten food security and livelihoods. Urgent action from the government and relevant organizations is needed to support affected farmers and prevent further escalation of violence and hunger.