RIFAN Laments Loss of Fertilisers Worth N30.4m to Floods

The Delta State chapter of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), has decried the loss of over N30.4 million worth of paddy rice and fertilisers to a rainstorm in Asaba.

Specifically, the RIFAN Chairman in the state, Chief Sylvanus Ejezie, told journalists  in Asaba that it would be difficult for the farmers to recover from the loss unless governments at all levels come to their rescue.

Describing the incident as a colossal loss to farmers in the state, he said the rainstorm damaged the warehouse on Ibusa Road in Asaba. He said, “The damage was colossal. It was a tragedy as everything in the warehouse got soaked and had been destroyed by water. I cried because all we have worked for last year got destroyed by the rain. “It is a heavy burden on the farmers because it was the produce of the RIFAN -Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Anchor borrower’s loan to the farmers for the year 2021,” Ejezie lamented.

On his part, the RIFAN Secretary in the state, Mr Abraham Epochi, said the loss incurred could be valued at N30.4 million. According to him, the rainstorm at the weekend blew off the roof and caused the wall on the backside of the warehouse to collapse, which resulted in the facility being flooded. Recounting the losses, he said, “As you can see, 2, 726 bags of fertilisers NPK 201010 and NPK 20510 special blend for rice production and these 647 bags of 75kg, and 3,659 bags of 100kg paddy rice are soaked and destroyed by the rain. “The cost of the fertiliser is put at N18.9 million, the value as at last year, while the paddy rice is put at N11.5 million lost to the rain.” However, Epochi noted that the paddy rice couldn’t be sold because the rice millers said they were badly soaked and could not be salvaged. “The fertilisers have been soaked and nutrients washed away by the waters as such it is no longer useful,” he added.

He called on the federal and state governments and on all well-spirited individuals to help the farmers, saying the damage was huge. “We are crying to both the Federal and State governments and well-spirited individuals to come to our aid to help us because the damage is huge. “We need help to be able to pay back our loans and to continue with the programme. We did not expect this, indeed it is a natural disaster,” Epochi stated.

source Agro Nigeria