2017 Season: Quelea birds, other pests’ control exercise through aerial spray flagged off In Bauchi

Gov MA Abubakar has flagged off the 2017 Season Quelea birds and other pest control spray in the state. The aerial spray which was organized by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the Bauchi State Government was held at the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport, Bauchi.

In his remarks, shortly before the flag off, Governor M.A Abubakar, according to a statement by Shamsuddeen Lukman Abubakar, SA Communications to the Governor, stated that 17 local government areas in the state recorded the influx of Quelea birds in last year’s dry season farming hence the need to curtail the menace.

The Governor further stated that farmers in the state suffered a huge loss due to the massive influx of the birds from neighboring states.

Governor Abubakar explained that the destruction recorded so far is worth over six million naira equivalent to 50,600 Metric tons of various crops representing 59 percent crops lost by farmers in the state.The Governor urged farmers to cooperate with government towards the success of the exercise and report outbreak of any pest that will bring set back to farming activities to appropriate authorities.

The governor commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his support to the agricultural sector and the success of the exercise in front line states.