SOSG, FG launch attack on quelea birds

Dr. Tureta who spoke at the official flagging off ceremony of the federal government’s wet season quelea birds control in Sokoto State, also maintained that the state government is making commendable complimentary effort in ensuring the success of the agricultural agenda.According to him, the state government has not only provided agricultural loans to the farmers […]

Dr. Tureta who spoke at the official flagging off ceremony of the federal government’s wet season quelea birds control in Sokoto State, also maintained that the state government is making commendable complimentary effort in ensuring the success of the agricultural agenda.
According to him, the state government has not only provided agricultural loans to the farmers in the state but has also provided farm inputs such as fertilizer, herbicides and implements at highly subsidized rates and provided improved variety of seedlings among others to help elevate the standard of the people.
“The state government has,  in order to compliment the federal government’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda, been committing a lot of funds towards addressing trans-boundary pest menace. And to this end, the government is still honouring it’s commitment in Fadama 111, IFAD and other federal government agric-related programmes,” Tureta said.
Speaking earlier, Zonal Pest Control Officer in charge of  Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states, Mr. Jude Omoregbee said among other pests that destroy farm produce, especially rice, quelea birds have been a major source of concern to both the federal government and farmers alike.
Mr. Jude who disclosed that red quelea birds in their numbers can destroy a whole hectare of rice within an hour, further lamented that the breeding places of  these birds have been discovered around Wurno, Silame, Gada among others in the various local governments that produce rice.
He, however, assured farmers that the pest control exercise of the federal government will serve farmers well in the area.
On his part, the pesticide control pilot, Colonel Samaila Dabaie Yaunbe, assured of quality job as he has been known for in other states of the federation.