From Sidi Ibrahim Kaulahi, Gusau
The Chairman of the Bakalori Water Users Association (BWUA), Malam Yakubu Yahaya has said that farmers had exhausted all available techniques to curtail the invasion of farmlands by quelea birds but that the birds have continued to ravage the farmlands.
Farmers at the Bakolori Irrigation Scheme have called on relevant authorities as well as governments at all levels to urgently come to their rescue over a bird invasion currently destroying their farmlands, saying the birds had so far damaged over 250 hectares of farmland.
According to Yahaya, the incident has become an annual disaster, but the current situation of the farmers requires immediate attention as they need an emergency response from government to save the remaining hectares.
He added that about 1,500 farmers were affected by the disaster, describing it as a major setback to the state’s economy and the nation at large.
In a response, the acting Director of Bird Control, Zamfara State Ministry of Agriculture, Alhaji Mahe Bala, said they had received the report and had arranged to forward the matter to the Honorable Minister of Agriculture for urgent attention.
