Association Seeks Laws On Bush Burning

L-R: Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbe and Vice President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Sani Dangote, at the inauguration of the second phase of Agricultural Equipment Hiring Enterprise at the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation in Ilorin, yesterday

The Chairman, Oil Palm
Millers Association of Nigeria, Ahoada East Local Government Area branch, Mr Wamero Alex, has called on the legislative arm of government to make laws to prohibit bush burning.
Alex who made this known to The Tide in an exclusive interview in Port Harcourt recently said most of the bush burning that ravaged farms and crops were deliberate.
According to him, farmers, especially at the rural level, have over the years lost huge sums of money to such fires due to the antics of what he termed mischief makers.
He said the call became necessary because the focus now was on how the economy could be diversified away from oil to agriculture and manufacturing.
He claimed that there were instances were suspects were apprehended by vigilant natives while trying to set fires during the hamattan season.
Alex explained that such acts should be seen as economic sabotage as the outcome results in the destruction of crops that cannot be replaced.
This he said placed the affected farmers into huge losses in terms of revenue, hunger, uncertainty as well as insecurity.
He also called on the youths to shun unwholesome practices and key into being agribusiness people.
The oil palm boss said there were a lot of benefits to be derived by the youths across the LGAs in the state if they decide to be self reliant instead of waiting endlessly for jobs that are not readily available.
He, however, advised farmers to clear their farms ahead of the dry season to avoid them being engulfed by unexpected fires either accidentally or deliberately.