By JIBRIL MOHAMMED NABIL, Damaturu
Farmers in Yobe State have commended the improved security situation across farming communities, saying it has enabled them to return to their farmlands, cultivate crops and harvest their produce without the fear of attacks by insurgents.
The farmers, who spoke in separate interviews during a visit to their farms, said the prevailing relative peace had restored confidence among rural farming households after years of insecurity that disrupted agricultural activities, displaced farmers and exposed them to attacks and loss of produce.
They, however, lamented the high cost and scarcity of fertiliser, alleging that difficulties in accessing government-subsidised supplies had forced many smallholder farmers to depend on private traders.
One of the farmers, Abu Ibrahim, said farmers previously risked being attacked or killed while working on their farms, while some lost their harvested crops to insurgents.
He expressed satisfaction that the security situation had improved considerably, allowing farmers to return to their fields and carry out their activities with greater confidence.
Ibrahim, however, identified the high cost of fertiliser as a major challenge, particularly for low-income farmers, adding that government-supported supplies were not reaching beneficiaries as expected.
Another farmer, Malam Ahmadu, said the improved security had enabled him to work on his farm from morning until sunset without disturbance.
Ahmadu, who was seen weeding his bean farm, said the prevailing peace had given farmers the freedom to concentrate on their agricultural activities.
Similarly, Malam Ahmad said he had successfully cultivated and harvested beans and other crops without encountering security challenges.
He said his harvest would largely be used to feed his household rather than sold commercially because of the limited quantity produced.
Ahmad, however, alleged that access to government-subsidised fertiliser was influenced by personal connections, forcing some farmers to abandon attempts to benefit from the intervention.
Also speaking, Salisu Suleiman said farming and harvesting activities had become relatively easier compared with previous years.
He, however, lamented that farmers still faced difficulties accessing government-subsidised fertiliser, forcing many to buy from private traders at higher prices.
Suleiman said although farmers were informed that government fertiliser had been supplied, accessing the commodity remained difficult.
He added that many farmers preferred buying from the open market rather than wasting time visiting distribution centres without success.
A woman farmer, Nafisa Abubakar, also commended the improved security, saying it had enabled farmers to access distant farmlands with greater confidence.
She said the relative peace had provided relief to farming households, allowing them to engage in agricultural activities without the fear and disruptions experienced in previous years.
Speaking on the security situation, the Public Relations Officer of the Yobe State Police Command, ASP Yusuf Adamu Ali, said the state had recorded significant improvement in farmer-herder relations, particularly during the current harvest season.
Ali said the reduction in clashes between farmers and herders represented a major milestone in efforts to sustain peace and stability across the state.
He attributed the development to sustained sensitisation and security interventions by the Commissioner of Police, CP Usman Kanfani Jibrin, aimed at educating farmers and herders on the dangers of conflicts and unlawful activities.
According to him, the police have continued to caution both groups against actions capable of triggering disputes, particularly those associated with farming and grazing activities.
He added that the command had also intensified efforts to check the unauthorised movement of firearms and ensure that weapons were not carried without the necessary authorisation.
The farmers therefore, called on the state government to sustain the prevailing security gains while addressing the challenges of fertiliser availability, affordability and distribution to improve agricultural productivity and livelihoods.