How flood changed Imawa’s soil fertility in Kano

Located in the outskirts of Kano metropolis, farmers in Imawa, a rural community in Kura Local Government Area of the state are famous in the cultivation of maize, millet and guinea corn. The soil of the community favours the cultivation of the three crops, hence the concentration of the farmers on these.Even when their neighbours […]

Located in the outskirts of Kano metropolis, farmers in Imawa, a rural community in Kura Local Government Area of the state are famous in the cultivation of maize, millet and guinea corn. The soil of the community favours the cultivation of the three crops, hence the concentration of the farmers on these.
Even when their neighbours in the same local government area are famous for the cultivation of rice, the farmers in Imawa have distinguished themselves over the years, as the major crops they cultivate are maize, millet and guinea corn. No farmer in Imawa dares plant rice because their soil is not suitable for it.
However, the situation changed four years ago when flood ravaged the community, like many others across the country. The flood washed away many farmlands in the community and affected negatively the harvest of the farmers that year.

At that time, the locals saw the flood as a curse as it washed away almost all they had laboured for over the years. But years later, their sadness has been replaced with joy as the flood turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
Now, their soil which was only good for maize, millet and guinea corn has become suitable for rice, a crop regarded as lucrative and profitable in the local government area. At present, the three crops can no longer be cultivated on Imawa soil, thanks to the flood.
When our correspondent visited Imawa, from the beginning to the end of the sparsely populated community, rice is cultivated there. Theirs is a rice cultivating community now, the locals are happy over the change and their expectations are  high as they prepare for this year’s harvest.

Speaking to our correspondent, a farmer Idris Umar (58) said for over 40 years he has been farming in their community but that he has never cultivated rice until three years ago.
“I’m 58 and I started farming at the age of 15 in this area. Our farmland was only suitable for maize, millet, guinea corn and groundnut and that was what I have been planting. It was from these crops that I married my wives but four years ago we had a challenge. Our farmland was washed away when flood ravaged our community. We lost our harvest and property to the flood.
“It was the following year after the flood that we discovered that our farmland is too wet and soft for the cultivation of our major crops. So we gathered and discussed the situation among ourselves in our community and we all resolved to try rice following advice by experts. At first we were all reluctant but after the first year’s harvest we became convinced that our community has joined the league of rice cultivating villages in Kura Local Government Area,” he said.
He said in the community now, they buy maize, millet and guinea corn from the market brought from other places and that they are happy with the development, adding, “for any farmer to cultivate any other crop aside from rice in Imawa now, the person must move out to another community because our land is not suitable for it again.”
On his harvest, he said last year he got 10 bags of rice but that this year, he is expecting 17 bags, adding, “you know because of my age I can no longer cultivate a big farm so my farming capacity has reduced over the years. I have two wives and 10 children and now two of my children are big-time farmers here in this community. I’m expecting 17 bags of rice this year because I bought two bags of fertilizer this year and last year I bought less than that at the market,” he said.
Asked why he didn’t register for the federal government’s fertilizer through the GES programme, he said he did not register because he did not have a phone. He also disclosed that he got government fertilizer last during President Shehu Shagari’s regime in early 80s.
“It was long time ago that I got assistance from government, the last time I got was during Shagari and I cannot remember the year but I was given two bags of fertilizer. At that time, I don’t know the usefulness of it because our soil did not require any fertilizer for us to have good harvest. But now we rely majorly on fertilizer to have good harvest because our soil is no longer like before,” he added.
Dahiru Ali (40), is another farmer in Imawa community, he said he started cultivating rice three years ago when the fertility of their soil changed. He said his farm produce has been increasing over the years because of the application of fertilizer.
“I got 20 bags of rice last year and this year I’m expecting by God grace 30 bags or more because I applied more fertilizer compared to last year. I bought fertilizer at the rate of N5, 000 at the market and not from the government. I have never gotten any assistance from them because I’m a petty farmer and they go for big farmers who are mostly politicians or retired military officers,” he said.
For him to cultivate more, he said he needs improved seeds and fertilizer at subsidised rate, saying, “now in this community we sell our rice to buy maize and this has been the trend for about three years now. We are happy with our situation and we thank God for everything,” he said.
Isiyaku Rabiu is a young farmer in Imawa, he is just 20 but he has been farming on his own for over five years now. He said he does not go to school because his parents preoccupy him on their farm.
“I only attended Islamic school and this is why I can’t speak English. I had 15 bags of rice last year and this year I will get over 20 because I have expanded my farmland. Aside from rice, I plant onions and tomatoes in order to make quick money to sustain myself,” he said.