The lawmaker representing Argungu Constituency in Kebbi state, Alhaji Umar Na’amore, has called on the Federal Government to spray pesticides on quelea birds invading their rice farms.
The lawmaker made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Birnin Kebbi on Sunday.
He said, “The people of Argungu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, appeal to the Federal and Kebbi State governments to conduct pesticide spraying to kill invading quelea birds in our farms in order to curtail the further loss of crops in the area.
“Quelea birds have ravaged almost 95,000 hectares of dry season rice plantations in the state, in which our area is affected hugely, which may have attendant food security implications.”
Na’amore also said farmers in the area had taken loans from Labana and WACOT rice mills, among others, in order to embark in their rice farming.
“As the rainy season has started, we are taken aback by the invasion and attacks of quelea birds migrating from neighbouring countries of Benin and Niger Republic.
“The migratory birds, such as quelea birds, locusts and grasshoppers, constitute serious threats to cereal crops like rice, wheat, maize, millet and sorghum, among others, in our area.
“This is because of our strategic location that makes it a significant flash point for entry of migratory pests into the country.”
The lawmaker also appealed with the governments to provide relief assistance to the affected farmers to recover from their losses.
“We are also appealing to the rice milling companies that offered loan assistance to the affected farmers to extend the redemption of the loans’ period to next year, 2024.
He further said, “A farmer whose farm has been invaded by the destructive quelea birds has no money to embark on another farming; then how can he pay back the loan he collected after he had invested them in farming that he incurred losses of crops?”
