A rice disease suspected to be Rice Blast has ravaged farmlands in Ayaya near Adabda in Gamawa Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
The District Head of Gamawa, Alhaji Adamu Abdulkadir Dahuwa, said this at his palace on Saturday in Gamawa during an interview with newsmen.
Dahuwa, who is also a victim, said the disease, noticed in the area in the last three weeks, had destroyed about 20 hectares of rice farms, parts of 2018/2019 dry season farming.
“The invasion of the disease suspected by experts as destructive fungal infestation has wreaked havoc, infesting about 20 hectares of rice farms across the area.
“I detected the disease in my farm in late May when the crops were reaping and when the good dry season we experienced in the area raised hopes of a decent harvest.
“It is very difficult to assess the extent of damage to yields as the crops are at varying stages of growth,” he stressed.
“This is an alien pest because we have never recorded such pests in the last four years we have been carrying out irrigated (dry season) farming in the affected areas.
“We were not able to report the invasion to government officials but I am making it public now since I have spotted an official from the Bauchi State Agricultural Development Authority (BSADP) who is here on condolence visit.
“I know he will carry the news to BSADP that most of the times are responsible for pests control in the state,” the district head said.
He, therefore, called on appropriate authorities to come to their assistance to avoid future occurrence.
Efforts made to obtain official side of the story from the Programme Manager, BSADP, Dr Illiyasu Gital, proved abortive as he was not on seat.