Fara: Another ‘nourishing meat’ for Borno people

Unlike in some places where fara is seen as a pest and therefore killed with pesticide, the flying specie is a delightful meat in Maiduguri and other parts of Borno State. The ‘meat’ which is normally fried in vegetable oil, serves as a delicacy in many households even as it takes the place of chicken, […]

Unlike in some places where fara is seen as a pest and therefore killed with pesticide, the flying specie is a delightful meat in Maiduguri and other parts of Borno State.

The ‘meat’ which is normally fried in vegetable oil, serves as a delicacy in many households even as it takes the place of chicken, turkey or goat meat in the menu of many families.

Hardly would you pass the above mentioned areas in Maiduguri anytime of the day without getting attracted to the women who are doing what they know best- frying and selling fara to willing buyers who are drawn from all cadres of people.

The trade equally gives succour to many women who rely on it for their daily survival. Fara sales   also serves as the source of livelihood for young boys and girls.

The Fara business in Maiduguri, Kanem Trust gathered from the traders, has been in existence for over 30 years.

The leader of the Fara Traders Association at Wulari, Regina Wazani, told our correspondent that she has been in the business for over three decades and the deal has been rewarding.

According to her, “I am one of the early traders who started this business in this market. When we started, we were few, but today, the population is increasing because the business is helping us to solve our basic problems through legitimate means.”

Wazani who is in her early 60s ,also said through the earnings from the grasshopper sales, she sponsored her children to schools. “Two of my sons are graduates. Two are policemen and my daughter is a successful trader. I trained all of them from the money I saved from this fara trade,” she said, with excitement and sense of fulfillment in her face.

Another trader, 23 year old undergraduate of University of Maiduguri, Jagila Buba who also sells fara at Wulari market, said she has no regrets in her life.

“I started doing this fara trade since when I was a little girl. I took over the business from my late mother who died last year. She was the former leader here before her death. Now I do not have to depend on anybody because I am using the proceeds to take care of myself,’’ she said.

She told Kanem Trust that her mother was the first person who started fara trade in Maiduguri, a claim that was confirmed by other women.

“My mother popularly known as Maman ‘Yan Biyu was very popular among the women selling fara in Maiduguri,” she recalled.

Jagila said they usually buy the fresh fara from men who sell to them around Maimalari barrack in Maiduguri.

“These men go to the bush at night to catch the fara and we go to their depot early in the morning to buy it,” she said.

According to her, a bag of fara is sold between N5000 and N6000, adding that after processing and selling, what they get is always wonderful.

“This trade is really helping us even though some people believe the business is not worth it. My mother built the house we are living in now from the money she made from fara trade,” the undergraduate told Kanem Trust.

Unlike cow or goat meat that is measured using kilogram, fara is measured in tins or small containers and the prices vary, depending on the type and how well it is prepared.

A small plate, according to the traders, sells for N100 while the biggest plate sells for N800.

“I have pride in what I am doing—earning legitimate money and I want to advise girls of my age who always depend on men to look for something to face reality and get into fara business instead of depending on men,” Jegila advised.

Most of the fara sellers are being assisted by their children including boys and girls of school age. Some help in frying the fara while others sell and at the end of the day get little money to spend or keep for school.

Baba Binta was seen with some alimajirai (Qur’anic school) pupils who assist her with washing plates and in return get some fried fara as a reward for their labour.

Another trader, Juliana Thomas, said she joined the fara trade about two years ago because she was tired of depending on her husband all the time.

“Since the time I joined this business, my life has changed and I am happy because I can now take care of some of my financial needs without necessarily asking my husband for any money,” she said.

Most of the women interviewed observed that like any other endeavour, fara business also has some challenges.

According to them, one of the problems they are facing now is the insecurity problem in Maiduguri, occasioned by the Boko Haram insurgency.

“The problem we are having now is that we cannot sell in the evening because most people do not come out at night,” Hannatu, another fara seller said

“When the town was peaceful, we enjoyed the patronage of all categories of people including housewives and students,” Hannatu said.

Kanem Trust investigations also showed that the poor in the society form the largest customers of the fara business.

“Some rich men also like to eat fara but most people who are poor and cannot afford to buy meat or fish due to poverty take relish in fara.

“The patronage is because fara is affordable and we feel it gives equal if not better nourishment when compared with meat,” Madam Juliana said.

With less than N7000, according to the traders, one can start the fara trade. To join the trade, the leader of the traders at Wulari said, “we do not collect anything from anybody before they can join us but you have to obey our rules and regulations.

“One of our roles is to settle misunderstandings between members and also between our members and their customers,’’ she said.

Kanem Trust gathered that most of the fara traders at Wulari, close to the police barracks are wives of policemen. “We pay N300 to the Polices Women Association because the land belongs to the police but we don’t pay any tax,” the leader said.

Normally, some customers demand for ‘taste’ before they can buy the fara but Kanem Trust gathered that some dubious people fill their tummies by moving from one stand to anther asking for ‘taste’ only to disappear at the end of the day without buying from any of the sellers.

The fara traders called on the government to assist them expand their business through the provision of soft loans. “We are also contributing to the economic development of Borno State and any assistance from the government will help a lot,” the leader said.