Taraba State rice farmers appeal for rescue

JALINGO (FIC Jalingo Report)

Rice farmers in Taraba State have appealed to the Federal Government and the Taraba State Government to come to their rescue following arrangements by the Cameroonian authorities to release excess water from the Lagdo Dam into the country.

A cross section of farmers in Jalingo – the Taraba State capital, who spoke to FIC Jalingo correspondent expressed fear that the release of excess water from the Lagdo Dam would bring serious damages to their crops.

According to them, the release of water from the dam would lead to over – flooding and washing away of riverside farmlands in Taraba State and other parts of Nigeria.

One of the major rice farmers in the state, Suleiman Tafida, (Alhaji) while narrating his ordeal in the 2012 Lagdo Dam water release indicated that the water washed away his 115 hectares of rice farm.

He also disclosed that this year, he planted over 150 hectres of rice farm, adding that he was totally shocked when he received the news that the Lagdo Dam would soon release its excess water.

When contacted, the Permanent Secretary of the Taraba State Emergency Management Agency, Garba Dan Habu said that the State Government has embarked on the sensitization of people living in flood – prone areas in the state as part of efforts to tackle the disaster

Source: http://fmi.gov.ng/latest/55017/