Dry season rice farmers in Kebbi State have raised an urgent appeal to the state government and the Sokoto Rima Basin Development Authority over a drastic drop in the water level of the River Rima, warning that their livelihoods are now at serious risk.
According to concerned stakeholders, the declining water level observed along the stretch flowing from Goronyo in Sokoto threatens irrigation activities that sustain thousands of farmers in Kebbi during the dry season.
A witness who visited the area on Monday described the situation as alarming.
“What I saw this morning was deeply worrying. If nothing is done quickly, we risk losing thousands of metric tons of paddy rice,”; the witness said.
The affected areas include major rice-producing local government areas such as Argungu, Augie, Birnin Kebbi, Kalgo, Bunza, Maiyama, Suru and parts of Koko-Besse and Bagudo.
Farmers are calling on the relevant authorities to act swiftly to restore water flow and prevent what they describe as a looming agricultural and economic crisis in Kebbi State.
