Mohammed Aminu
7 September 2008
Sokoto — Determined to boost food production in the state, Sokoto state government has commenced the aerial spray against invasion of quelea birds and other pests that wrecks havoc on crops.
Speaking during the flagging-off of the spraying exercise in Sokoto yesterday, Deputy State Governor and Commissioner of Agriculture, Alhaji Mukhtari Shagari, said the aerial spray has become imperative in order to prevent destruction of crops by quelea birds.
According to him, the state government decided to adopt a pro-active approach this year as the farmers are losing farm products worth millions of naira to the destructive birds annually.
"We have made adequate arrangements to boost food supply in Sokoto during this farming season. Thus, we are indeed aware that this losses resulting from the invasion of quelea birds always affect the food supply situation in the state and reduce to a very large extent the profit margin of local farmers", he said.
Shagari noted that majority of the people in the state are predominantly farmers and depend on it for livelihood, hence the intervention by the state government to avert food shortage resulting from destructive effects of the birds.
"Ninety-five percent of the people are farmers and we believe more should be done in this direction to avert the negative effects of these birds. Food security is next to nothing and it should be guaranteed for all of us", Shagari added. He also lauded the Federal government's recent initiative aimed at curbing the menace of quelea birds across the country.
It would be recalled that quelea birds annually destroy crops such as rice, millet, maize, guinea corn, among others.
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