KATSINA: Farmers lose crops worth millions as dam dries up

The drying up of a dam in Katsina and a lack of rainfall has led to the loss of crops worth millions of naira, irrigation farmers in the state have said.

The farmers, who use water from the Musawa dam in tending their crops, said several crops at various stages of maturity have wilted following the lack of water.

They say the development has prompted them to commence early harvest in a bid to salvage what is left of the crops.

Chairman of Musawa Irrigation Farmers Association, Alhaji Idris Abdullahi, told newsmen on Monday that the estimated losses incurred by the farmers is around N30 million.

He also said about 1,000 farm hands have been rendered jobless, with over 150 farmers affected.

Abdullahi said about 150 hectares of tomato, potato, wheat, maize, onion and other vegetables have been damaged due to lack of water.

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He urged the government to dredge the dam before the rains fully commence, and to support affected farmers to cushion their losses.

According to Abdullahi, the dam which was constructed about 60 years ago has been dredged just once.

He described the dam as a major source of employment to people in the area, and said it should be salvaged to save the people from penury, while adding that the Katsina Agricultural and Rural Development Authority had pledged to drill wash bores to assist the irrigation farmers.