The Federal Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with Jigawa State government, has commenced an aerial spray of quelea birds in Auyo Local Government Area of the state.
The Zonal Coordinator, Pest Control of the ministry, Alhaji Abba Gana, said the exercise was as a result of complaints the ministry received from the state.
According to him, the aerial spraying was aimed at reducing the population of quelea birds as well as control another trans-border pest problem in the country.
Represented during the commencement of the exercise by Abubakar Abdullah, a director in the ministry, Gana added that the exercise would last for two weeks in 11 local government areas of the state.
Similarly, the Special Adviser to Jigawa State governor on Community and Inclusion, Alhaji Hamza Mohammed Hadejia, said the aerial spray followed complaints by rice farmers on the invasion of quelea birds in some parts of the state.
He pointed out that invasion of quelea birds and flooding had been the major challenges farmers in the area were experiencing for many years leading to reduction in food production in the state.
The special adviser explained also that it was a thing of joy to see that both federal and state governments had taken measures to curtail some of the major challenges faced by farmers in the state.
Speaking on behalf of the farmers, Malam Ubale Babandi, thanked the government for the exercise, adding that when farmers noticed the invasion of the birds, they felt threatened and alerted the authorities of the menace.
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