By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Farmers in flood-prone Anambra communities are bracing up for this year’s flood. This is coming on the heels of findings that no fewer than 50 communities in seven local government areas of the state are at the risk of being submerged by flood if not prevented early enough.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had recently alerted the nation about the looming flood disaster in 19 states, including Anambra. NEMA had called for adequate preparations to be made in good time to avert the level of devastation that occurred during the last year’s flood disaster across the country. It advised communities residing in the coastal regions to begin early to evacuate themselves from those areas before the flood would come

Last year, over 50 communities were swept away by flood in Anambra, destroying buildings and farmlands as well as causing an outbreak of cholera pandemic in those communities.

The State Government has moved to reduce the havoc this year. As part of this, the State Commissioner for Environment, Felix Odimegwu, has undertaken sensitisation and awareness campaigns to the flood-prone areas of the state.

Local Government Transition Committee Chairmen have also been directed to hold town hall meetings to educate the communities involved about what to do ahead of the flooding.

Speaking to our correspondent on the development, the Onitsha South local Government Area Transition Committee Chairman, Chief Emeka Orji, said that one of the measures taken to avert the looming disaster included removal of illegal structures and clearing of canals and drains that were blocked.

He expressed confidence that this year’s flooding would not be severe in his area.

According to him, farmers in the seven Local Government Areas had commenced premature harvesting of their crops.

A fish and pig farmer at Omor in Ayamelum Local Government Area of the state, Clement Chukwudi Igwilo,confirmed that the flood had was looming, adding that he had evacuated his farm.

He said: “It has come to Ifite Ogwari, Omor, Umuerum Aguleri in Anambra East heading to Oba Ofemili in Awka North local government area and places that were dry lands have been taken over by the coming flood.

“We have over 350 large fish farms on the water ways and once the flood comes it would sweep away everything and we are left with nothing.

“It is sad that we are harvesting so early but we have no choice but to save the much we can and those that are worse affected are the farmers that planted yams and cassava because they are harvesting too early”

On her part, a farmer at Inoma in Anambra West Local Government Area, Monica Nwoye, said that it was not enough for NEMA to raise alarm but to come on time to assist the farmers.

She said: “The government every year would shout and tell us that flood is coming but it ends there but they have nothing again to do for us to save our farms and after the flood government would forget us and wait for another year.”

Prince Chris Okwuosa, a fish farmer from Umuzu community in Ogbaru Local Government Area, lamented that the Bank of Industry and Nigerian Agricultural Cooperative And Rural Development Bank had not helped matters, stating that there would be food crisis next year due to the impending flood.

Okwuosa said: “What is the Bank of Industry and Agricultural Bank doing to assist us over the flood? Nothing! Everything is just paper work and no action.”