In response to the yearnings of rice farmers in Kano and also demonstrating a commitment towards sustaining the success of the Rice Transformation Agenda, the Federal Government recently approved a 50 hours aerial spray of high risk areas in Kano state under the attack of Quelea Birds.
The flag-off ceremony of the aerial spray for the control of these trans-border pests that attack cereal crops on the field, especially rice, took place at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.
The operation which will reduce the amount of money being spent by farmers employing traditional control methods, was attended by the Honourable Commissioner for Agric and Natural Resources Kano State – Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, Ag State Director(FMARD) – Mr Adamu Muhammad Shehu as well as other officials of the state and federal governments.
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Prior to this event, the rice farmers represented by the Sariki Noma of Kano State, Alhaji Yusuf Nadabo had lamented to AgroNigeria team during a rice tour visit to the state, about the challenges the birds had posed to their farm output as a result of the attack on their rice crops.
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The operation is set to cover six local governments which include: Garun Mallam, Kura, Bagwai, Dambatta , Makoda and Warawa. The nesting and roosting sites of these Quelea birds were identified during the monitoring exercise of crop performance under the 2014 wet season GES in Kano state and government promised to take measures to stem the massive losses suffered by the cereal farmers.
According to (Mallam Munir), Kano State Director FMARD in a chat with AgroNigeria, this operation will further boost the confidence of the farmers in the effectiveness of the ATA, thus encouraging them to produce more, make more profit, improve their livelihoods  and  guarantee a sustainable supply of paddy to the rice mills.
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