Following the recent invasion of Quelea birds on rice and Sorghum farms in the North-East zone of Nigeria, the Federal Government said that it has begun aerial spray of pesticides to curtail the birds.

Coordinating Officer, Federal Pest Control Service Division, Department of Veterinary and Pest Control, Adamu Kazaure, who revealed this to journalists in Yola said that the Federal Government had received complaints from farmers, of birds destroying sorghum and rice crops in Adamawa and Taraba states.

“Following the report of Quelea birds devastating farmlands in some states in North East region, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture through its Pest Control Services Division swung into action for aerial pesticides spray in Adamawa and Taraba states.

“So far, we have covered almost 12 local government areas in the two states,” Kazaure said

He urged farmers in the affected states to adopt healthy practices in order to complement the Federal Government’s efforts to control the situation.

“We implore affected states to supplement federal government efforts through the provision of additional flight hours, pesticides and logistics.

“The complementary would drastically reduce the population of the menace to a level that will not cause economic injury to our farmers,” Kazaure added

SOURCE: AGRONIGERIA