Kebbi Government Acts Against Quelea Bird Invasion

The Kebbi State government is taking urgent action to address the invasion of quelea birds that threaten rice farming across several parts of the state. Alhaji Shehu Mu Azu, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, disclosed during a press briefing on Friday that the infestation was detected within the last 72 hours, with reports indicating substantial damage to early-planted rice fields.

Quelea birds are known agricultural pests in Africa, capable of devastating large areas of grain crops in a short time. The state government, under the direction of Governor Nasir Idris, is deploying agricultural extension officers and crop protection specialists to monitor bird movements and assess damage.

Ground spraying operations using fenthion 5EC pesticide have already commenced, with plans for aerial spraying pending regulatory approval. The invasion raises concerns among farmers, especially as efforts to boost local rice production intensify to reduce dependence on imported grains.