By Brave Dickson
Following the incessant rainfall in Rivers State, some farmers have raised an alert on areas flood has surfaced in the state.
The farmers who revealed this to our correspondent through their National President, Association of Commercial Farmers and Agro-Allied Producers of Nigeria, Engr Fidelis Amadi also predicted premature harvesting.
Amadi said the flooding will definitely lead to food shortage and hike in food price if nothing is done to curtail the flood.
He said: “We are having flood challenge in some parts of ONELGA, Ahoada East, Emohua, Ikwerre, Obio/Akpor and Okrika LGAs respectively.
“And most of these farmers are pleasant farmers who only farm to eat without agro insurance.
“We are calling on these farmers to come, so we can help profile them into the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance.
“This insurance coverage will help take care of any damage they might incur from flooding.
“The federal government set up this insurance scheme for farmers but ignorance and poverty have made a lot of farmers not to take good advantage of the scheme.
“This flooding will also lead to a food shortage in the state especially that of cassava because the flooding will force a lot of farmers to harvest premature cassava.
“And there will be a high rise in food price occasioned by flooding in the state.”
