The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Nabdam, Francis Tobig, has expressed grave concern over the continuous destruction of farmlands by migrating elephants, which he says has left many farmers devastated and financially strained.
According to Mr. Tobig, the elephants use Nabdam as a migration corridor, traveling long distances from Damongo in the Savannah Region, through Nabdam and Bongo in the Upper East Region, before crossing into Burkina Faso.
Speaking before the Parliamentary Committee on Local Government and Rural Development during the consideration of the 2024 Annual Audit Statements of the MMDAs, the DCE described the situation as dire.
“A lot of elephants have invaded farms. People have invested significant effort and resources into their farms, only to return and find them destroyed. This is a very sad situation in our district,” he lamented.
Mr. Tobig called for increased logistical and human resource support for the Forestry Division, which currently has only six officers patrolling three districts to help farmers ward off the elephants.
He also commended the Member of Parliament for Nabdam, Dr. Mark Kurt Nawaane, for supporting educational initiatives that teach farmers how to protect their crops from elephants. However, Mr. Tobig admitted that while some strategies are effective, others have proven expensive or counterproductive.
He explained that using loud blasts in farms has helped to scare elephants away but comes at a high financial cost to farmers. On the other hand, methods like lighting up farms at night, he said, have been found to be counterproductive as artificial lighting affects plant growth negatively.
The DCE emphasized the need for a sustainable and well-coordinated intervention to protect farmlands and ensure food security in Nabdam, where most residents depend heavily on agriculture for their livelihoods.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1 MHz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Bolgatanga
