Farmers in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State have raised the alarm over a troubling increase in fatalities caused by snakebites during crop harvesting.
Speaking on behalf of the affected farmers, Ndagi Zakari, the local representative in the State House of Assembly, expressed deep concern during a recent plenary session and stated that the alarming rate of deaths resulting from these incidents.
According to Zakari, victims are often attacked while travelling to their farms, exacerbating the dangers faced by the farming community.
He emphasized the urgent need for intervention, as the lack of accessible medical treatment has made snakebites a deadly threat.
“The victims are not just numbers; they are our brothers, sisters, and community members,” Zakari said
Despite the rising death toll, anti-snake venom injections remain unavailable in hospitals due to prohibitive costs, with each injection priced at around N200,000, an amount that is simply beyond the reach of peasant farmers.”
He observed that the harvest season typically sees an increase in snakebite incidents, as snakes emerge from their burrows to strike at farmers during crop harvesting.
He expressed concern that many victims often turn to traditional remedies, which he deems unsafe and unreliable due to the lack of available antidotes.
In their resolution, the House urged the state government to take action by supplying free antivenom injections to public health facilities throughout the state to help reduce fatalities.
However, the affected farmers are calling for immediate government action to provide affordable anti-snake venom treatments and improve safety measures to protect their lives and livelihoods.