Farmers in the Takum council area of Taraba said insecurity remains a major deterrent to farming activities.

The farmers, who spoke in separate interviews in Takum on Wednesday, called for improved security to enhance food production. They urged the government to improve security in villages and farmlands.

Micah Audu, a farmer in Takum, said people find it difficult to go to their farmlands for fear of kidnappers, destruction of farm produce and killings.

“Farmers, especially those whose farmlands are on the outskirts, are afraid of going to farm due to fear of being kidnapped, clashes with herders and lingering unrest within Takum and its environs,” Mr Audu said.

He said many farmlands were left uncultivated because farmers want to stay alive.

“Many farmers have abstained from farming to be alive,” he said.

Japhet Philip, a rice farmer, described Takum as a town whose residents are predominantly farmers, but insecurity has left many jobless.

“Takum is a farming town; farming is what most of us here live on, but right now insecurity has made it very hard. In places like Chanchanji, people can no longer go to their farms in peace,” he said.

Mr Philip said vast lands cultivated for generations have been left uncultivated because of insecurity.

“The land that fed families for generations is now empty. In villages like Tor-Lijam, Akaajo, Abunde, Akase and others, people ran away; people are displaced, their farms destroyed,” he added.

(NAN)