For the rice farmers of Yauri, Ngaski, and Shanga, the promise of a bountiful harvest has turned to ruin.
Torrential rains and the overflowing River Niger have submerged vast hectares of farmland, wiping out livelihoods and threatening the state’s rice supply, leaving families desperate for immediate aid.
Farmers Plead For Help
Malam Usman Dankwairo walked along the muddy remnants of his farm, shaking his head.
“The river came first, and then the rain swept the rest away,” he said, his voice heavy with loss.
“This is unprecedented.
Without urgent help, many of us may never recover.”
Once, Usman harvested more than 100 bags of rice each season.
Now, water and mud cover his fields.
“God has brought this challenge.
We have lost everything.
Sympathy alone cannot feed our families.
We need real support,” he pleaded, appealing directly to political leaders.
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Urgent Action Needed
Furthermore, the communities of Yauri, Ngaski, and Shanga contribute crucially to Kebbi’s rice production and form the backbone of the state’s “Lake Rice” initiative.
However, the submerged fields now threaten the livelihoods of farming families and the wider food supply.
In response, local leaders have urged the State Emergency Management Agency and other authorities to act quickly, deliver relief, and plan recovery.
They warn that, without immediate intervention, the floods could trigger hunger and economic hardship in the coming months.
Meanwhile, officials continue to assess the damage, but for farmers like Usman, every day counts as they wait for a lifeline that could restore both their crops and their hope.
