No fewer than 995 rice farms have been destroyed by heavy flooding in Babura Local Government Area of Jigawa State, leaving hundreds of farmers devastated and uncertain about the future.
The Chairman of Babura Local Government, Suleiman Daudu Babura, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Wednesday, August 27, describing it as a major setback for farmers and the local economy.
According to the council chairman, the disaster affected rice farms across several villages, including Kwagga, Martini, Fadibara, Kuzunzumi, Jikan Kanwa/FLN, Dangaigai, Dankarda, Karfawa, Kanawa, Burukum Gari Wato, Bata, S/Baka, Shashatu, Burukum FLN, and Kurtulla.
The affected areas are largely rural communities where farming, especially rice cultivation, is the main source of livelihood for the people.
Local farmers say the flooding was caused by continuous rainfall that lasted for several days, leading to the overflow of nearby rivers and streams, which submerged farmlands and destroyed mature rice ready for harvest.
One of the affected farmers, Malam Aminu Karfawa, said the destruction was overwhelming.
“This is the worst flood we have seen in years. I lost over two hectares of rice, and I don’t know how I will recover. I used loans to farm this year, hoping for a good harvest. Now, everything is gone,” he lamented.
Another farmer, Hajiya Zainab Dankarda, who also lost her rice farm, described the incident as a disaster that calls for urgent government support.
“Most of us depend on this rice farming to feed our families and send our children to school. Without help, many of us will go hungry this year,” she said.
Chairman Daudu explained that local officials have visited the affected areas to assess the damage and gather data for further action.
He called on the Jigawa State Government, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and other relevant agencies to urgently intervene by providing relief materials, seeds, and financial support to help the farmers recover.
He said, “This flooding has affected the livelihoods of hundreds of families. We are appealing to the state and federal governments to assist our people in rebuilding their farms and lives.”
Jigawa State is one of Nigeria’s top rice-producing states, and Babura Local Government is among the key rice-growing areas in the state. However, the region is highly prone to seasonal flooding, especially during the rainy season, which typically spans June to September.
The flood has raised concerns about food security, as the destruction of nearly 1,000 rice farms may affect local rice availability and prices in the coming months.
In recent years, Jigawa State has suffered multiple flood disasters, with thousands of hectares of farmland destroyed yearly. Experts have blamed the recurring problem on poor drainage systems, silted rivers, and lack of proper water management.
Meanwhile, local leaders and traditional rulers in the affected areas are mobilising community members and appealing to philanthropists and NGOs for help.
As farmers await assistance, many say they are unsure how to survive the rest of the year without harvest or savings.
“If help doesn’t come quickly, we may not be able to farm again next season,” said another farmer, adding that the community is already facing food shortages.
The Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) is yet to issue an official response, but sources say a team will be dispatched to the area in the coming days to assess the full impact of the flood.
