Floods kill 5, destroy 1,105 acres of arable land in Northern Region

The havoc caused by torrential rains in the Northern Region is deepening as more farmlands along the White Volta have been submerged with several lives lost.

At least 10 farming communities in the area have been severely affected with about 1,105 acres (442 hectares) of crop lands consumed by the floods.

West Mamprusi Municipal Director of Agriculture, Mr Matthew Adua, explained in an interview with Class91.3FM’s Northern Regional Correspondent, Mohammed Gadafi that the crops affected largely are rice and maize.

He said that the farmers regard the lowlands as fertile, even though “we try to keep them away from farming close to the basin of the river but because of the fertile nature of the soil, they would always want to do early cropping so that they will harvest before the floods come.”

“But unfortunately this year, in addition to the heavy rains, we also have the Bagre Dam that was opened, so, that, coupled with the heavy rains, has flooded many of our areas,” he explained.

He estimated that about 2,325 people have had their crops destroyed from 35 communities. The affected communities include: Kariminga, Biu, Dibsi, Kurugu, Siringa, Biu, through to Yinfio to Daboya in the North Gonja District.

Meanwhile, several districts, including the Savelugu Municipality, Central Gonja, North Gonja, West Mamprusi, Gambaga/Nalerigu and Karaga in the Northern Region, have also been hit by floods.

At least, five persons have lost their lives as a result. They include a 13-year-old boy and a 60-year-old woman in the West Mamprusi and Savelugu municipalities, respectively.

The devastation caused the Northern Regional Minister, Salifu Saeed, to visit the affected area last week to assess the extent of damage.

Government’s flagship programmme, Planting for Food & Jobs (PFJ), is under threat as many farms have been destroyed.

The minister said the government is making efforts to put relief measures in place but urged philanthropists to assist.

“I am calling on all others, especially the development partners as well as individual investors, to come to the aid of the region and the affected communities,” he pleaded.

Source: Class FM