Lagos: Some farmers associations in Lagos State have called for the collaboration of government and stakeholders to prevent flooding in local farms across the country. The associations made the calls in separate interviews with Newsmen on Wednesday in Lagos.
According to Voice of Nigeria, the Deputy Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Sakin Agbayewa, emphasized the need for training of local farmers on changing weather patterns and collaboration with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) to prevent floods in farms. Agbayewa highlighted the importance of keeping farmers informed about weather changes and suggested that local farmers need to create free passageways for water in their farms to prevent flooding. He also stressed the need for the government to make irrigation systems accessible and to facilitate bank funding for farmers seeking irrigation solutions.
Agbayewa further explained that farmers could construct ridges in their farms to manage water flow during floods and create makeshift dams to accumulate excess water. He urged research institutes to develop techniques that are adaptable to floods and droughts, advocating for farmer training and advocacy to mitigate flood damage to farms.
In addition, Mr. Raphael Hunsa, the Lagos state chairman of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), called for government support to help local farmers create ridges to manage flooding. Hunsa noted the dual nature of water in farming, both essential and potentially destructive, and emphasized the need for government assistance due to the high costs associated with hiring equipment to build these ridges. He expressed hope that with continued government support, flood management in farms could be improved.