Flood destroys fish farms, crops in Delta

Reports show that flood, which began on Sunday and continued till Monday, in Umuoko / Oko-Ogbele area, in Oshimili South Local Council of Delta State, has reportedly destroyed fish farms and crops worth millions of naira in the area.

The Guardian reports that the residents / owners of the affected farms have called on the state government to come to their aid, and investigation revealed that the flood has rendered many of residents homeless.

Expectedly, crops affected by the flood included: plantains, yam, cassava and various fish ponds. One of the affected farmers and the Odaje Asi of Umu-oko, Prince Emodi Obiorah, said the flood has forced the farmers to harvest premature crops, The Guardian reports.

Noting that the situation might bring about scarcity of crops next year, Obiorah appealed to the state government and other relevant agencies to come to their aid and assist them with seedlings to sustain next year’s farming season.

The Guardian also reports that, meanwhile, residents of Omelugboma camp in Okogbele have decried the effect of the flood, saying ‘unless something is done, our homes will be swept into the River Niger.’

But an elder statesman in the community, Mr. Patrick Uka, said: “ Many of us are sick because this flood has bred more mosquitoes. Lack of hospitals and healthcare centres has also made their situation worse.”

Source: The Guardian