Sagre Banbangi with agric officials in West Mamprusi
Torrential rains have destroyed farmlands in the West Mamprusi Municipality of the Northern Region.
A total of 3,875 acres of farmlands have been destroyed by the torrential rains, as well as water from the Bagre Dam in Burkina Faso.
According to the Municipal Agriculture officer, Matthew Adua, over 31 farming communities have been affected, with mainly maize and rice destroyed.
“1,105 acres, that is 4,042 hectares, have been affected by floods in the area,” he added.
Mr. Adua urged farmers in the municipality not to farm near rivers and cultivate early maturing crops.
DAILY GUIDE gathered that in the West Mamprusi Municipality, some 225 farmers, who have been displaced, have been forced to temporarily stay with their relatives, friends and neighbours.
Speaking to DAILY GUIDE, the Deputy Minister for Agric, Sagre Banbangi, stated that in the long-term, government intends to rehabilitate the Tono Irrigation Dam, which would be used to harvest excess water from the Bagre Dam.
The Deputy Minister made this known when he visited some affected communities in the West Mamprusi and Savelugu Municipalities of the Northern Region.
He also added that plans are underway to intensify education of farmers to improve yields in the coming years.
According to him, the unprecedented destruction of farms cannot be solely attributed to the spillage of water from the Bagre Dam.
“The rains have been very severe this year; the destruction we are seeing shouldn’t be blamed on the spillage from the Bagre Dam alone.”
Sagre Banbangi indicated that the agricultural policy of the country would have to be examined, adding that the introduction of farming insurance for farmers should be considered.
Meanwhile, the affected persons are appealing to government, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and other institutions to come to their aid.
They indicated that their children, especially the school-going ones, had to stay home because their schools have been adversely affected by the torrential rains.
So far five persons have been confirmed dead.
Property worth millions of cedis have so far been destroyed.
In some parts of the Northern Region, communities have been completely cut off from Tamale, the regional capital, which has affected economic and schooling activities.
From Eric Kombat, Walewale