A Peoples Democratic Party lawmaker representing the Argungu
Constituency in the Kebbi House of Assembly, Alhaji Umar Na’amore,
has called on the Federal Government to spray pesticides on invading
quelea birds on their farms in the area.
Na’amore made the call in an interview with the News Agency of
Nigeria 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 said it was on record that most of the farmers in the area
had taken loans from Labana and WACOT rice mills, among others,
to embark massively on farming in order to help the country in its
efforts to have food security and produce what we eat.
Quelea birds are small-sized, sparrow- or finch-like gregarious birds
with bills adapted to eating seeds. Queleas may be nomadic over
vast ranges; the red-billed quelea is said to be the most numerous
bird species in the world.

“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.
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“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,” he said.
The lawmaker also urged 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.
“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?” he said.
(NAN)
https://punchng.com/lawmaker-seeks-fgs-intervention-as-quelea-birds-invade-kebbi-farms/

mynd44 oam4j lalasticlala seun nlfpmod

Good move may God help divert the attention of the birds from their farms

Northern problem is national problem but southern problem is south headache.

The quelea birds almost showed me shege when I planted maize earlier this year in school as practicals....

We had to cover the ears of the maize with nylon to prevent the birds from raiding everything we had labour for...

After harvesting and sales you'll see how farmers especially those who are into small- scale farming find it difficult to make a living out of their proceeds....

So this bird is still ravaging farms