Secretary to the Kebbi State Government, Alhaji Yakubu Bala Tafida with stakeholders at the flag off. Photo: Abdullahi Tukur/Radio Nigeria
Kebbi State Governor, Comrade Nasir Idris, has flagged-off the 2023 aerial operation for the control of migratory pests across the frontline Local Government Areas of the state.
In a ceremony at Birnin Kebbi International Airport, Governor Idris said, it was meant to ensure food security in the state.
The Governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Yakubu Bala Tafida, said the government was determined to fight any menace that would truncate the successes being recorded in agricultural sector in the state.
He said, pests, especially Quelea birds remained a serious threat to the production of cereal in the state.
“The control measure is also necessary to ensure undisrupted agricultural activities in this year’s farming season”.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Joel Aiki, described the intervention as timely saying, farmers had just harvested their dry season rice and millets.
According to him, the wet season farming is maturing and farmers are working hard to ensure bumper wet season harvest, however, Quelea birds have started attacking.
He said that the state stood as a corridor through which the pests gain entrance into Nigeria from Benin and Niger Republics.
Speaking on behalf of the companies handling the aerial spray; Yombe Nigeria Limited and Aixel Nigeria Limited, Alhaji Samaila Yombe-Dabai, former Deputy Governor of the state, explained that, the aerial spray would be conducted in Argungu, Bagudo and Kalgo Local Government Areas of the state.
He called on the State Government to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the company to position itself for prompt response of any unexpected pests attack.
Reporting by Abdullahi Tukur; Editing by Chinasa Ossai and Julian Osamoto