Some farmers in Borno state have called for deployment of military and other security personnel to farmlands, to protect them against attack by Boko Haram insurgents this cropping season.
They also called for modern preservation technologies to enhance processing and reduction in damage to agricultural produce.
A cross section of the farmers made the call in separate interviews at some fields in Jere and Mafa Local Government Areas of the state.
A beans grower, Ali Bukar at Keyamla plantation said the call was imperative to protect them from attack by the insurgents. He alleged that the insurgents had recently coordinated attacks against farmers and loggers, a trend which forced most of them to abandon their farmlands.
The Chairman of Rice Farmers Association, Zabalmari community in Jere local government area Muhammad Hassan added that proactive measures were necessary to encourage farmers to cultivate their lands during the season.
