Nigeria: Farmers Want Govt to Enforce Law On Bush Burning
Nigeria: Farmers Want Govt to Enforce Law On Bush Burning
6 December 2007
published by allafrica.com
Nigeria — A farmer in Benue has called on the government to enforce the law against bush burning to save farms and trees from wild fires.
Mr Ter Kwangah, an orange farmer in Yandev, made the call yesterday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He said farmers had over the years lost economic crops, such as banana, cashew, mango and orange trees to bush fire. He said the campaign against bush burning by the Ministry of Environment would be meaningless if those responsible for bush fires were not prosecuted.
He appealed to the government to employ forest guards from communities to check bush burning.
“Governor (Gabriel) Suswam seems to be serious on issues of agriculture and the environment, he should do everything to protect our trees and lands since it is only the government that can enforce the law,” he said.
Ter also urged the government to assist farmers with credit facilities and farm input to boost agricultural production.
