From ABBAS GUNGURA, Bauchi
BAUCHI State Government has procured agrochemical and other equipment worth N45,000,000.00 in response to a recent outbreak of insects and pests in farmlands affecting ten local government areas of the state.
Governor Bala Mohammed disclosed this while flagging-off aerial spray against Quelea birds at the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport, Bauchi, recently.
Represented by the Commissioner of Agriculture, Professor Simon Madugu Yalams, Governor Mohammed described agriculture as the backbone of the state’s economy and revealed that the sector employed over 75 percent of the population of the state.
He said his government had since inception made a lot of efforts towards transforming the agricultural sector from being a way of life of the people to a business that would enhance the earning power of the teaming farming families.
The governor added that the transformation was carried out in order to attract investors, donor agencies and development partners from within and outside the country.
He revealed that flocks of Quelea birds attacked and destroyed millions of hectares of agricultural farms and fields annually, leading to substantial grain deficiency in the country.
“These birds are migratory in nature, therefore, the only method of controlling these destructive pests is by aerial spray of chemicals as well as ground control by the Ministry of Agriculture fumigation team,” the governor explained.
The commissioner informed the affected communities where the aerial spray would take place, with the plane flying at a lower altitude, not to panic and warned them against eating any of the dead birds because they were highly toxic.
