Cattle have destroyed an integrated rice farm worth over N17 million at Oji-Agu in Akpugo, Nkanu West local government area of Enugu state.
This followed a herd of cattle that went into the farmland to graze when the owners of the farm had retired to their homes.
Briefing newsmen on the massive destruction of the rice farmland in Enugu Wednesday, Mr Ekene Uzodinma, Manager of Excellent Integrated Farms Ltd, said that herds of cattle ate up over eight hectares of farmland the company cultivated.
Uzodinma lamented that the herds also devoured some heaps of unprocessed paddy rice kept in the farmland, which was waiting to be sent to the milling machine.
“From the market value of local rice now, the eight hectare should produce at least 80 tons of rice as a finished product and it is nothing less than N17 million in evaluation,’’ he said.
He stated that presently my workers, other farms and villagers are afraid to go to the farms again due to the unrelenting activities of the herds; while the herdsmen are threatening to brutally deal with anybody that dares to stop their cattle from grazing.
“Initially, we tried our best to wade them off especially during the raining season and the swampy nature of the rice farm also kept the herdsmen and their herds away.
“However, when we started harvesting and the dry season rolled in; in early December, we were constantly chasing them away until December 15; when they started coming into the rice farmland during the late evening and night hours,”he said.
Uzodinma stated that he had written twice to the state governor, police commissioner and other security agencies and the state Farmers/Herders Peace Committee for about a month now but there was no response and no phone call from these quarters.
“It is only the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps that came to the scene of the devastating and anger-provoking farm to ask some questions, took some notes and pictures,’’ he said.
He, however, said that he was exploiting diplomatic means to seek redress and get the authorities to intervene especially as the company plans to cultivate 200 hectares of farmland in the state this year by involving no fewer than 100 youths in agriculture.
“It is shocking that we do not have political authorities and law enforcement agencies that really care about the people as activities of these herdsmen and their cattle had made many villagers not to go to farm any longer.
“Why should herds of cattle graze at night?Why should a large number of herds be controlled underage youth?,” he asked.
