Farmlands along the Kubore river in the Upper East region have been completely submerged following the spillage of the Bagre dam, coupled with heavy rainfall in the area. The annual spillage of the Bagre dam in Burkina Faso causes considerable damage to farms and properties in the Northern part of the country, especially in the Upper East and North East regions.
The recent spillage has left many farmers in distress, with their months of hard labor and toils going down the drain. Akudoku Jeremiah, a resident farmer in Kubore, expressed his frustration, stating that the disaster has destroyed their crops, which were ready for harvest.
“This Bagre Dam water spillage has come and spoilt all our farms. They don’t inform us early, and right now, the crops too, it’s time for us to harvest them, and the water has come and destroyed them,” Jeremiah lamented.
The farmer emphasized that the spillage brings a lot of problems, especially concerning food security. “The water has come and spoilt everything…So we are pleading with the government to come to our aid and help us. If not, we have nowhere to go,” he stated.
The Bagre dam spillage is an annual occurrence, but the severity of the damage varies from year to year. However, the lack of early warning systems and inadequate measures to mitigate the effects of the spillage have left farmers vulnerable.
The submerged farmlands have not only affected the farmers’ livelihoods but also threaten food security in the region. The crops destroyed include staple foods like maize, rice, and vegetables, which are essential for the local population.
The government has been urged to take immediate action to support the affected farmers. This includes providing relief aid, such as seeds, fertilizers, and financial assistance, to help them recover from the losses.
In addition, there have been calls for the government to engage with the Burkinabe authorities to find a lasting solution to the annual Bagre dam spillage. This could include measures to regulate the water flow or provide early warning systems to alert farmers of impending floods.
The Upper East and North East regions are already vulnerable to food insecurity, and the Bagre dam spillage has exacerbated the situation. It is essential for the government to take proactive steps to address the issue and ensure that farmers are supported to recover from the losses.
As the situation continues to unfold, farmers like Akudoku Jeremiah can only hope for swift action from the government to alleviate their suffering and ensure that they can continue to farm and provide for their families.
