Farmer Nanau Braces For More Business Losses Due To Impacts Of Flooding During The Difficult COVID-Era

Nasolo, Ba farmer, Emosi Nanau, said years of flooding in Ba has made him implement measures to keep the business of his family farm afloat even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr Nanau said his family farm land is 8.8 hectares and 21 acres in total, of which nearly 7.7 hectares is contracted area. His family farm business has been operational for more than 30 years.

“The only impact is that we have no cash flow and we have to restart by planting and ploughing again because some plants like dalo leaves are the only ones I can grow at this time,” he said.

“I lost around about 600 eggplants in the last flood. My land is near a creek so when the flood waters entered my farm it destroyed everything.”

He said farmers had no choice but to wait until the rainy season ends before they could replant crops.

“The estimated cost of damage – maybe about $5000 to $6000. I have eggplant, cucumber, dalo leaves, coconuts and beans. I don’t go with cabbage because it needs a lot of maintenance, and watering so we go for long term crops,” he said.

He said flood waters came into the market twice this year, resulting in the closure of the market.

“We lost out on sales of 80 to 90 per cent because now vegetable prices are going high and there’s shortage,” he said.

Mr Nanau said he makes $500 profit now as compared to $1000 before the pandemic.

“We will need $2000 to $3000 because getting things done on the field is not easy; you have to plough then leave it for a month then replough it then when weeds are clear only then can we replant,” he said.

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