How Olam Farm Destroyed Our Fishing Ponds, Rice Fields-Community Cries Out

• Accuses Olam of Neglecting Them As Host Community
• Kept Us Out Of Business and Jobs
• We Cannot Even Get Fish, Rice, Our Economic Trees Such As Mangoes, Oranges Are All Dead
• No single amenities such as Electricity, Potable Water, Good  Roads, Health Care Facilities In Our Community

Rabiu Omaku

The people of the Rukubi community of Doma local government Council of Nasarawa state have continued to express concern over the presence of the largest rice farm in Africa.

With the presence of Olam rice as the most expensive food in the community and its environs, some of the concerned indigenes of Rukubi explained to Universal Reporters that Olam rice farm is a curse not a blessing to the community.

The immediate past deputy chairman of Doma Local Government, Hon. Simon Osokunu in an interview some time ago, it would be recalled stated that the existence of the Olam rice farm is a curse to the immediate communities and Doma, the host local government

Also, an elderly stateman from Ijiwo Mallam. Mohammadu Ikushunta recently that the coming of Olam rice farm is not a blessing because no single benefit is coming to Ijiwo, a community sharing a boundary with the rice farm.

He hinted that the borehole sunk in the community has broken down, A Kabawa farmer and fisherman who was leaving in Rukubi for over thirty years said the company has thrown them out of their job because no single freshwater fish are in the river, reason has been that Olam created and divert the main water into the farm.

He said all the fishes go down to their big pond which is inside the yard of the company, adding that a fragment of land belongs to an individual, and even the small portion is not useful to the community due to the indiscriminate spraying of chemicals such as herbicide with the use of helicopter by Olam.

He said the chemicals not only affect their yield of rice but also affect human beings, mango trees, oranges as well as other economic trees which are seriously affected, chemicals also cause stomach pains, skin irritation, and other health hazards.

He expressed displeasure over the dearth of the road which was constructed by the late Governor of the State, Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Doma, he confirmed that the road was destroyed by the heavy trucks conveying rice on a daily basis as well as that it had almost destroyed some bridges which any moment will be washed away by a heavy downpour.

He said the worst of all is the rising waves of insecurity along the Rukubi-Okpatta-Igbabu-Ediya -Doma road, bringing the present episode of the immediate past commissioner of Environment and Natural Resources, And the member-elect of Doma South under the NNPP, Hon. Musa Ibrahim, from Agbashi community, as well the attack meted on a top management staff of Olam farm, who was referred to National Hospital, Abuja for treatment.

The route to Rukubi which is relative peace is now an arsenal of death with pockets of attack by Kidnappers and armed robbers hunting for their victims, due to the bad condition of the road, the motorcycle is the only faster and safer means of transportation in that axis.

It could be recalled that, the paramount ruler of Idadu, Engineer Mohammed Addra was amongst those that escaped death after having an extensive security and peace meeting with Fulani herders at his palace and while returning to his base in Doma.

Also, some youth of Abuja-Ogo, a few kilometers away from Rukubi said for one to feel the pulse of their pain, all that is needed is for the visitor maybe for the first time to visit Rukubi, adding that he will be foisted to jettison his journey.

Meanwhile, the host community has lamented the absence of any Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, by Olam to them. They also stated that it is so bad that the community where massive rice production is carried out lack access to potable water, access to good health care center, access to good road, and access to electricity.  

Olam Farm, a subsidiary of Olam International, hosting one of the world’s largest agricultural conglomerates, located about 62 kilometers from Doma, the headquarters of Doma Local Government, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU)  in 2012

The company is occupying a total land mass of 9,000 hectares of land, the US$ 90 million investment of a Singapore-based foreign investor, reputed as Africa’s largest rice farm, was officially commissioned by then President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

Ijiwo is battling with potable drinking water been the host of the largest rice farm in Africa.