By; Mohammed Kawu, Bauchi
Bauchi State Governor, Senator Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed Monday tendered apology to farmers in the state for what was adjudged as wrong or mistaken spraying of herbicide on their farmlands to perfect livestock right of way
He made the apology during stakeholders meeting that comprised, among others, the members of the Cattle Breaders Association of Nigeria, Farmers Association of Nigeria, Poultry Association of Nigeria which was held at the AcreSAL Hall of the Government House, Bauchi.
Senator Bala Mohammed noted that the prevalence of herder-farmer conflict during the farming season is not limited to livestock right of way, and apportioned blame on the State Ministry of Agriculture for taking the decision to spread herbicide on farmlands when crops were in maturity stage.
Governor Bala explained that enforcement of the right of way at this inappropriate time has wider implications, pointing out that even the chemicals being used would adversely affect the livestock that are being protected, observing that it would be disastrous the moment they feeds on the spraying crops.
He said, “Iam not aware that chemicals have been spread on people’s farmlands until when a good samaritan drew my attention to the issue, which I immediately called the commissioner responsible for the sub-sector to quickly stop the process until next cropping season.”
“I have also received several messages from farmers complaining about the untimely spray of the chemicals on crops. As a grassroots politician, they know me as someone who listens to the people, and they have made it clear that this approach is neither good nor safer for either side”.
“We must accept some responsibility for the lack of adequate sensitisation on the part of the Ministry of Agriculture, because we have extension personnel at the BASDP, whose responsibility is to ensure that information gets to the people at appropriate time”.
The governor puts it thus, “If this information had been properly and timely disseminated and escalated, we probably would not have found ourselves in this situation, which the timing is also not appropriate”.
According to him, exercise should have been carried out at the beginning of the rainy season, not when harvest is almost approaching, which people are already experiencing hunger and have received very little support from government, local governments, even from themselves because of poverty.
Senator Bala Mohammed noted that people are looking forward to harvesting their crops, and then “We introduce chemicals spraying that could affect both their crops and the animals we are trying to protect”.
“I am not a scientist but common sense tells us that this is not a good approach, which we should have used the authority of government, which has the legitimate power to enforce laws, to clear the routes mechanically from the beginning of the season”
The Governor positioned, “The use of caterpillars or whatever appropriate equipment is available. People would understand that there is government, there is law and order, and there are rules that must be followed on this matter”.
“Doing this when groundnuts and other crops are almost ready for harvest shows a lack of empathy for our people.
There would not have been all these problems if government had properly engaged the common associations before enforcing a measure that is intended for the common good”
“I have already instructed the commissioner of agriculture to halt the implementation because the manner in which it was being carried out did not meet my expectations. It was not properly communicated to me, and it was not being implemented in the way I expected.”
Governor Bala further explained that the Ministry of Agriculture must do it’s job, as at when due, stressing, “It is not that you have lost your voice. You must ensure that you are always present and actively involved in communicating government policies to the people”
As Governor, I will take responsibility for what has happened not because I personally directed it to be done in this manner, but because it was implemented at the wrong time and in a manner that has caused unnecessary hardship.
The Governor emphasized that the situation is not good for the livestock farmers, which the state government must find a solution that could protects both crop farmers and livestock farmers.
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