How Boko Haram attack destroyed over .5 Million metric tons of Crops in Adamawa

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development   announced that no less than 546,388 metric tons of crops destroyed owing to the insurgent attacks in Northern Adamawa in 2014.

Dr. Walia Hamman, state Director of the ministry in Yola told Newsmen in Yola that a total of 273,194 farmers equally affected by the insurgency attacks.

"About 273,194 of our farmers from five Local Government Areas in Northern Adamawa are affected by the activity of Boko Haram.

"While 546,388 metric tons of crops comprises of maize, rice, sorghum among others   equally destroyed to the insurgency in 2014," Hamman said.

He said that Madagali LGA has the highest number of affected farmers with a total of 97,391, followed by Mubi South with a total of 68,772 Farmers affected by the activities of insurgents

Others he said included Michika 34,592, Mubi North 42,062 and Maiha - 30,377 farmers affected by the Boko Haram.

Hamman equally said that in the year under review, a total of 273,194 hectares of farms abandoned.

On the possibility of food crisis in the areas, the director replied that Government has adequate food reserve in the silos to overcome food insecurity in those affected areas.

He further stated that the insurgent activities had seriously affected the smooth implementation of Growth Enhancement Scheme project in five northern Adamawa local government areas.

He listed Madagali, Michika, Mubi North, Mubi South and Maiha as the most affected local government areas.

“The total farmers registered to in 2014 in the state under the Growth Enhancement Scheme is  780,845 farmers." Hamman said.

He said that as part of the government effort to cushion farmers sufferings,  no less than  67,000 farmers were target  for 2015 dry season farming in the state.

By Tom Garba, Yola, Adamawa State for elombah