Drought dries up Yobe fishermen, farmers

According to a report, an estimated 500 fishermen and farmers from Bade have migrated in search of greener pastures elsewhere. Experts have predicted mass exodus, not only of farmers and fishermen, but of many residents whose sustenance is tied to the availability of the water. They warned of impending mass death of livestock if alternative […]

According to a report, an estimated 500 fishermen and farmers from Bade have migrated in search of greener pastures elsewhere. Experts have predicted mass exodus, not only of farmers and fishermen, but of many residents whose sustenance is tied to the availability of the water. They warned of impending mass death of livestock if alternative water source is not provided by the government. Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the Council, Saleh Suleiman, also raised alarm over the impending disaster.

Suleiman warned that several fishermen and irrigation farmers have lost their means of livelihood due to the drought in the area. He said there was shortage of rainfall while the Hadeija-Jama’are River has completely dried up. According to him, the river overflowed initially when the rainy season started, but later dried up when the rains stopped. He said majority of the youths who depend on the river for their livelihood through irrigation, fishing and other commercial activities, will now have nothing to do.

Suleiman told Weekly Trust that Bade was one of the hubs of rice and fish production in the country, generating revenue to the state and the nation. He also spoke on the council’s efforts to meet the needs of the people, saying it has earmarked N13.5 million to drill and renovate 15 boreholes in 10 wards within the area.

Also, Alhaji Sani Kalgeri, Chairman, Rice Processors/Sellers Association, told Weekly Trust that he has been into farming, processing and selling rice for over 30 years but he has never experienced the poor level of harvest farmers have this year. “It was a wasted effort,” he lamented. “We have more than 50 local rice processors in Gashua. I cannot tell you the amount of rice being processed in each of the 50 local factories but for me, I used to parboil 50 bags of rice on a daily basis and sell. And I can assure you that every Wednesday, not fewer than 8,000 bags are transported out of Gashua to different parts of this country, to the best of my knowledge. However, the harvest this year has been quite disappointing.”

Alhaji Ahmad Mahmood, also a farmer, told Weekly Trust that shortage of rainfall coupled with the drying up of the river affected this year’s output. “Last year in my rice paddy, I made a bumper harvest of 148 bags but on the same paddy this year, I only realised six bags.” He advised government to provide them with improved seedlings and modern ways of farming to supplement the shortage.

The state government has kicked against the construction of Kafin Zaki Dam, because it will impede water from feeding the main dam that residents have been using over the years. Governor Ali Gaidam warned that the attendant consequences of building Kafin Zaki Dam would be catastrophic, because farmers, herdsmen and fishermen from many parts of Nigeria and even from outside this country, visit Yobe River in order to use its natural endowments.

But fishermen became suspicious that even though the Kafin Zaki Dam was not built, another small dam called Rafin Dole was constructed, which impedes water flow from feeding River Yobe. Malam Haladu Muhammad, chairman, Gashua Fishers Association told Weekly Trust that the river was delayed from flowing by 40 days compared to the normal annual running of 120 days at a stretch. “Fish became very scarce to a level that fishermen cannot get anything. An area where I usually caught 5000 fishes from in previous years now can’t yield even 50 because the river is filled with sand,” he said. “Kwarawa (fishermen) and Yanbankwai  (fish buyers) did not show up from Kano this time around because even if they come there is nothing for them to buy.” He advised government to remove impediments to the free flow of water, “because we learnt that Kogin Dole was constructed along the course which hinders the water from flowing.”

Also, it is estimated that the river is providing an annual catch of over 600 metric tonnes of fish which has a market value of almost 500 million naira. These resources usually provide the only fallback in the time of stress. Malam Saleh Banen-Bayero, Secretary, Miyetti Allah, Gashua wing, told Weekly Trust that food shortage in the area is causing many herdsmen to migrate from the area. “We cannot tell our people to stay unless we provide them with a solution.”

An ecologist, Aisha Abubakar explained that as the river is drying up, natural disasters would affect the ecology of the area. “The wetland is a roadblock to desert encroachment and it harbours large number of diverse species of wild life, particularly migratory birds, but with the river drying up, we will lose some of them, if not all and desert has already started conquering the Northern parts of Bade,” she said.

Speaking to Weekly Trust on the matter, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Idi Barde Gubana said government has been meeting farmers to find a way to address the problem. “We received approval from the governor to buy hand pumps, wash pumps, improve seeds and chemicals also with essential services and distribute to the potential areas in the state.”

Gubana added: “It’s in our plan to trace the river channels and make sure that we remove all the impediments restricting the water flow to the river against next year.” The Emir of Bade, told Weekly Trust that he receives complaints from farmers and fishermen in the area and paid a visit to the area.  “Actually, we need government’s attention, but people should also devise means on how they can improve the situation themselves.”