Pujehun Floods Destroy Rice and Cassava Farms
A devastating flood has wiped out vast acres of rice, cassava, and vegetable crops across the Sowende Section in Ya-Kemoh Kpukumu Krim (YKK) Chiefdom, triggering urgent warnings of impending food shortages in the riverine district.
Chief Fatorma Stevens of Sowende Section, stationed in Saama, issued a direct appeal to the government and international development partners for emergency agricultural relief.
"The flooding has destroyed the primary source of food and income for dozens of families in our section," Chief Stevens stated, emphasizing that agricultural livelihoods in YKK Chiefdom remain severely paralyzed.
Local economies in the Chiefdom rely heavily on fishing, mechanized rice farming, cassava cultivation, and small-scale vegetable production along the riverbanks. The heavy rains have not only submerged farm fields but also damaged several residential structures, leaving families displaced and without basic shelter during the peak of the rainy season.
Farmers in Sowende Section face compounding challenges despite possessing vast, fertile bolilands suitable for commercial rice cultivation. According to Chief Stevens, local growers have been unable to access tractor services, forcing them to rely entirely on manual labor and traditional hand hoes.
"We have formally escalated our plight to the Paramount Chief and relevant local authorities, but we are yet to receive any direct relief or intervention," Stevens added.
Amidst the crisis, the chief commended the national school feeding initiative, noting that it continues to keep children enrolled and nourished despite regional agricultural disruptions. He also praised the ongoing collaboration among local town chiefs in coordinating community resilience efforts.
Chief Stevens renewed his plea to humanitarian agencies and agricultural authorities for high-yield rice seeds, vegetable seedlings, and tractor support ahead of the upcoming planting season to prevent widespread famine and help the community rebuild.
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