Food security: Farmers decry destruction of Arable land by illegal miners
Jack Acheme, Kano
Farmers from Dawakin Kudu, Kura areas and neighbouring villages, known for massive Rice and other food production in Kano state have cried out for help over activities of illegal sand minners that have affected thousands of hecters of arable land in the area, reducing output to all time low.
They said the development threatens food security of the state and the nation in general.
The Dawakin Kudu, Kura farm areas and it’s surroundings are known for large tons of rice and other food production annually, with many value chain cottage industries located in the area.
The Secretary of the farmers Union, who is also one of the victims, Abdulwahab Adamu at a media briefing in Kano said activities of the sand miners have tampered with the ecosystem leading to the area being submerged by water due to erosion during rainy season and low water table for irrigation during dry season.
“The development has affected us economically and environmentally.”
“The tube wells and boreholes we use for irrigation farming are getting dried up. Trees crops, especially friuts and root crops can no longer survive.”
“Before we use to dig boreholes with one pipe and get water for our farms, Now we use up to ten of such pipes and can not get the same result because of the activities of the sand dredgers”
“On daily basis up to 72 dredging machines could be seen working there, each loads over 50 trucks of sand everyday.
He said this is a business many environmental impact assessment organizations have said was not suitable for the place but they didn’t stop.
Lateefah Ibrahim
