By John Oba Abuja
Th e federal government said the country is currently in a major national catastrophy due to invasion of army worms on major crops such as maize, cocoa, rice and cotton farms. Th is is even as it stated that over 800 farms has been aff ected by bird fl u and that the government need should N1,813, 893, 320 with 81 farmers yet to submit their claims. Th e Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh speaking with the Commissioners for Agriculture from the 36 states, yesterday in Abuja said it was important to respond swiftly on the infestation to avoid further attack on the crops. He said there was need for the State Governors to respond adequately to the situation by purchasing recommended pesticides for local farmers.
About N2.98 billion was estimated as fund urgently needed to salvage the situation. His words: “If they loose their farms and they refuse to farm, this country is in trouble. We will write to your governors and make them understand why they should do this while we see how we look out for funds.” “As you have heard that about N2.98b is needed to fi ght this army worm in at least 700, 000 hectares of land across board especially those areas where the case is more pronounced. “We also have huge amount of money to pay poultry farmers as compensation. Now we have no money, with the budget not signed into law,” Ogbeh added. However, the Minister said it may be diffi cult to get the fund as the 2017 budget was yet to be passed by the Executive, stressing that he may need to further persuade the Budget Offi ce and the Federal Ministry of Finance to help provide the needed funds. Already, according to a Director from the Ministry’s Department of Pest Control, Dr. Kalu Mike said about 700, 000 hectares of maize farms in fi ve Geo-political zones across the country.
Th ey include South East, South South, North Central, North West and North East including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Presenting an update on the situation of Highly pathogenic Avian infl uenza in Nigeria, the director, department of veterinary and pest control services, Gideon Mshelbwala, said the fl u has reoccured in six states of the nation and the FCT. Th e Minister later agreed to setup a joint committee with members from the States and federal government to meet quarterly and provide contingency plans on ways to end the infestation. Army Worm invaded the country in 2016 through Oyo stat
