Birds destroy early millet and rice in valley areas in Upper East Region

Birds are destroying early millet and rice crops in valley areas in the Upper East Region.

Some of the affected communities are Nyariga, Sumbrungu, Zaare, Yorogo and Yikine.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview at Nyariga, the Chief of Bongo-Nyariga ,Naba Bosongo Dogumpoeya II, indicated that majority of farmers in the affected communities had their rice farms destroyed by birds when they cropped during the last dry season.

He appealed to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), to come to the aid of the communities, to ensure that the late millet, which matures in August, was not also destroyed by the birds.

Naba Dogumpoeya II, expressed worry that as a result of the late arrival of rains that affected the crops this season, there might be poor harvest of some crops in the Region, if some pragmatic measures were not put in place to check the bird menace.

The Chief also impressed upon other stakeholders, particularly Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Philanthropists, to support the affected communities with food aid.

When GNA visited some of the communities it was confirmed that the birds had destroyed the early millet and were still destroying those that were yet to be harvested.**