A farmer and teacher in the Kintampo South district of the Bono East Region, Abukari Abdul Latif has lost more than 2,000 tubers of yam to a bush fire.
Despite numerous public awareness campaigns about the dangers of bush fires, many farmers continue to suffer significant losses due to these wildfires.
According to Abdul Latif, the fire that destroyed his crops was deliberately set because he had created fire belts around his farm.
“I was shocked when I got here. The yams that got burnt are more than 2000 tubers and I can’t even send one tuber home. I know someone intentionally did this because a farm can’t just catch fire,” he said.
He stated that he has no savings and a family to support, and pleads with the government for assistance in the wake of the fire that destroyed his crops.
A community fire volunteer, Mr. Attah Kakra, has pointed out that they lack equipment to fight fires in the town.
“All the yam is burnt. We couldn’t stop the fire. We don’t have equipment. “
“Leading Fireman Bafochal Ibrahim, who assessed the damage, also suspected arson as a possible cause of the fire.
Mr Kakra noted that the yams were burnt in barns, which indicates that someone deliberately set the fire.
He stated that the cause of the fire will be investigated and advised the residents to work together to prevent future tragedies.
“So each and every one should be a watchman to the hunters and the Fulani as well as the cigarette smokers. Some people also set fire to the farms without putting it off well. This burns the grasses and before we realize it has burnt others farms.”