By: Haruna Kuyateh
An inferno that occurred at the orange and cashew plantation farms in Nuimi Jurunku in North Bank Region over the weekend has burnt down the whole farms.
The destruction of the orange and cashew farms and forests affects people’s livelihoods.
Chief Momodou Chatty Cham has launched a passionate appeal to the National Disaster Management Agency and other humanitarian organizations to come to the aid of affected farmers in Jurunku.
The Regional Disaster Management Office in North Bank Region has described the alarming rate of domestic and bushfire as a concern, saying over 22 fire cases were registered in March.
Lamin Saidy, Regional Disaster Management Coordinator for North Bank Region said the recent inferno destroyed cashew farms, woodlots, foodstuff, clothing, and bedding materials.
However, the limited hydrant points and fire tenders affect the timely response of the Fire and Rescue Service.
He noted that over 200ha of cashew farms in Nuimi Jurunku were consumed by the fire whilst 8 individual cashew farms, a community garden, and 7 beehives supported by Future In Our Hands and NGO were burnt down in Prince village of Upper Nuimi.
Chief Momodou Chatty Cham, a renowned farmer of Upper Nuimi described the fire incident as unfortunate, noting that it has affected people’s livelihood.
He used the moment to thank the people of the village for their effort in putting off the fire, but due to Tuesday’s windstorm, the fire got out of hand, and as a result, 40 cashew farmers were affected.
Alagie Manjang on behalf of Alkalo reiterated the need for timely humanitarian assistants to the affected families. Fakoli Cham, Basiru Sise, Faye Njie, and Fatoumata Njie cashew farmers said the fire disaster resulted in an economic loss of D1.5 million.
The affected communities are Tambana, Munyagen, Badibou Gunjur, Passimut, Sabach Njie, Badibou Kerewan, Jurunku, Albreda respectively.
