Unrest in Northern
part of Nigeria may result into regional crisis if current trend is left unattended to. While artificial farmine is fast gripping hard hit areas like Maiduguri, Yobe, other areas are getting hit without knowing it.
Bomb, kidnapping, attack and counter attack had left many residence of the vast northern areas to flee leaving behind their main source of livelihoood and a lifewire to million others - Agriculture.
Fleeing for dear lives, farmers are abandoning their farms for the safety of the south, a situation which is affecting the grecory market negatively.
The development may soon upset the already volatile economy crisis in the country because most foods stuff consumes in the country, especially in the south, are produce in the north.
According to National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA), a large percentage of northern farmers abandon their farms for safety in the south.
‘The attacks on these farmers who produce beans, onions, pepper, maize, rice, livestock etc for the Nigeria populace had displaced many farmers’
The United Nation, in February, also expressed fear that the current development would make it difficult for the World Food Programme to source its supply from Nigeria to affected areas in the Sahel region.
Direct attack on cattle market in Nasarawa (April 2012) left more than 40 dead, a similar attack in Kaduna recorded several dead.
Already, tomatoes, which is a major ingridient in food now goes for 4-pieces at 100 naira from it previous 6-piece.
The Nigerian government recently acknowledged the challenge posed by the crisis to agriculture when The Special Adviser to the Minister of Agriculture, Dr Olukayode Oyeleye, told newsmen that terrorism remained a challenge to agriculture despite efforts made to revive it.
‘Farmers will run from the farm if their lives are threatened by terrorists but it is beyond the ministry to provide security. It is the job of security agencies. Farming cannot take place where there is insecurity.’
More than anything, northern Nigeria is known for it vast agriculture tradition with their market tentacles reaching as far as the western coast of Lagos, 700 kilometres away from the region.
With a very dry, semidesert plains, coupled with annual rainfall that is less than 500mm (20in) per year (raining season last for three months in some areas) compare to other regions where rainy season starts in April or May and runs through September or October with rainfall of more than 4,000 mm (60in), ingenuity in farm technique, though at great stress, sustain the region’s agriculture dominance.
Agriculture, including farming and herding, accounts for 23 percent of Nigeria’s GDP and engages 3 percent of the economically active population.
Fleeing for dear lives, farmers are abandoning their farms for the safety of the south, a situation which is affecting the grecory market negatively.
The development may soon upset the already volatile economy crisis in the country because most foods stuff consumes in the country, especially in the south, are produce in the north.
According to National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA), a large percentage of northern farmers abandon their farms for safety in the south.
‘The attacks on these farmers who produce beans, onions, pepper, maize, rice, livestock etc for the Nigeria populace had displaced many farmers’
The United Nation, in February, also expressed fear that the current development would make it difficult for the World Food Programme to source its supply from Nigeria to affected areas in the Sahel region.
Direct attack on cattle market in Nasarawa (April 2012) left more than 40 dead, a similar attack in Kaduna recorded several dead.
Already, tomatoes, which is a major ingridient in food now goes for 4-pieces at 100 naira from it previous 6-piece.
The Nigerian government recently acknowledged the challenge posed by the crisis to agriculture when The Special Adviser to the Minister of Agriculture, Dr Olukayode Oyeleye, told newsmen that terrorism remained a challenge to agriculture despite efforts made to revive it.
‘Farmers will run from the farm if their lives are threatened by terrorists but it is beyond the ministry to provide security. It is the job of security agencies. Farming cannot take place where there is insecurity.’
More than anything, northern Nigeria is known for it vast agriculture tradition with their market tentacles reaching as far as the western coast of Lagos, 700 kilometres away from the region.
With a very dry, semidesert plains, coupled with annual rainfall that is less than 500mm (20in) per year (raining season last for three months in some areas) compare to other regions where rainy season starts in April or May and runs through September or October with rainfall of more than 4,000 mm (60in), ingenuity in farm technique, though at great stress, sustain the region’s agriculture dominance.
Agriculture, including farming and herding, accounts for 23 percent of Nigeria’s GDP and engages 3 percent of the economically active population.
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