Edo farmers count losses as fire ravages farmlands

Farmers in Orhua community in Uhunmwode Local Governmet area in Edo State are counting their losses as fire ravages farmlands worth millions of naira. The fire outbreak has created serious setback to the income of the affected farmers as farming is the major occupation of residents in the community.

A visit of BusinessDay to the farm showed a large expanse of palm oil plantation of several acres running into millions of naira destroyed by the fire outbreak. Also affected by the fire incident was palm oil milling factory including machines.

Owere Dickson Imasogie, a farmer and a retired army officer whose farm was engulfed by the fire expressed shock at the magnitude of destruction and attributed the outbreak to harmattan or wild fire.

“The cost of the burnt palm oil milling machine will be about N5 million while the cost of bringing the factory into operation cannot be ascertained now,” Imasogie said.

According to Imasogie, the fire outbreak destroyed over 80 acres of palm oil which has created about eight to 10 months setback as the palm trees will take a period of time to fully come back to life.

He disclosed that he generated not less than N1. 5 million monthly and that for the period of between eight to 10 months would witness low productivity and financial loss. He said it was out of the proceeds that he pays his workers on daily wage numbering about 72 with a total of N900, 000 spent monthly on their combined wage.

Also counting their losses were farmers in communities harmed by other wild fire outbreaks including Orhua, Uhi, Irhue and Umokpa communities in Uhunmwode local council area.

Farmlands approximately several acres of cassava, yam, pineapple, cocoa, plantain plantations, palm plantations among others were affected by the fire outbreak incident.