Rodents invade Kebbi rice farms

Rice farmers in Kebbi State are currently faced with the menace of rodents that are ravaging farmlands in Bagudo and Suru local government areas of the state. The Dagwadejin Suru, Alhaji Muhammad Bello, who spoke on behalf of the farmers in the area, said the rodents have caused extensive damage to their rice farms.  The […]

Rice farmers in Kebbi State are currently faced with the menace of rodents that are ravaging farmlands in Bagudo and Suru local government areas of the state.

The Dagwadejin Suru, Alhaji Muhammad Bello, who spoke on behalf of the farmers in the area, said the rodents have caused extensive damage to their rice farms. 

The Director, Produce and Pest Control in the state Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Alhaji Adamu Muhammed Dankawu, confirmed the invasion, saying the ministry had received reports of rise in the population of rodents in rice farms at Argungu, Dandi, Suru, Augie and Bagudo local government areas.

The Deputy Governor, Alhaji Samaila Yombe Dabai, has however assured the farmers that the state government would take necessary measures to dislodge the rodents to enable them achieve bumper harvest during the dry and wet season farming periods.

The deputy governor said he had visited some of the affected areas because of the complaints by farmers to the government for quick intervention.

“His Excellency, Senator Atiku Abubakar Bagudu, has mandated me to come and inspect the area and report my findings and recommendations for necessary action,” he said.

He stated that over the years, the state government has done all it could to fight quela birds that had also caused nightmares to rice farms, adding that government was still fighting the birds yearly through aerial spray of chemicals directly at their hideouts.