Cattails Smother Livelihoods of Farmers and Fishermen in Jigawa State

A species of cattail grass known locally as 'kachalla' is taking over river banks and farmlands around the Hadejia-Komadugu-Yobe wetlands in northern Nigeria's Jigawa state, disrupting farming and fishing activities on which inhabitants rely.

"Fishermen cannot fish in the river because it has been taken over by the grass," Jigawa state environment commissioner Yusuf Mato told IRIN.

"Kachalla has crippled economic activities, destroying not just fishing but farming as well", he said. "They are the only two sources of wealth and employment in the area."

Typha australis, as the species is called, has an entangled roots system that spreads rapidly, blocking river canals and taking over farmland. The areas worst affected are in the eastern part of this rural, agrarian state, including the districts of Birniwa, Guri, Kirikasamma, Auyo and Hadejia.

"It is quite a disaster," Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido, told IRIN.

The grass only began to be noticed in the state after the construction of dams and barrages in 1972, according to agricultural researcher Umar Hassan Birniwa.

"Its spread has been rapid," he said. In the last 20 years the land area infested has doubled to almost 10 percent of Jigawa State's total landmass of 22,410 sq km. And typha is currently spreading annually at a rate of 10 percent, he added.

The problem for farmers is that when they try to pull the weed out of the ground, the top comes off but the root survives and the grass spreads further, the experts say.