Quelea birds destroy hectares of rice farms in Kebbi
Story from Shaafatu DAUDA
Over 70 thousand hectares of dry season rice plantations have been attacked by Quelea birds in the Argungu local government area of Kebbi State.
An affected farmer who spoke to newsmen, Malam Adamu Argungu, said rice farmers in Argungu are in a serious problem, apart from high cost of fuel and fertiliser, quela birds have taken over their farms and one has to be at the farm regularly “If not birds will eat the entire rice field”.
Likewise, Garba Umar Rabo, said he spent over 20 years cultivating rice on his farmland, but has never experience a disaster with birds like this. He said they keep coming back even if you send them away.
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Argungu local government council chairman, Alhaji Salihu Argungu, told newsmen that they are making an effort to wipe out the dangerous birds by identifying their roots.
“Once we identify their root, we will go on massive spray to wipe out the dangerous birds”.
It has been estimated that over hundred farmers have lost their produce while the birds are still raging.