BENIN CITY – The Edo State House of Assembly has adopted a resolution calling on the 18 Local Government Councils in Edo State through their Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture, their extension workers and the State Ministry of Environment to as a matter of urgency move into areas affected by bush burning to ascertain the cause of the wildfire and level of damage in the state.
The resolution also urged the Ministries of Agriculture, Environment and Public Utilities, Information and National Orientation Agency, in collaboration with the Local Governments through their community heads, community development associations stakeholders and chairmen to embark on aggressive awareness campaign to the people on the dangers of bush burning and the alternative modern ways of killing weeds in their farms with the use of herbicides.
The adoption of the resolution was sequel to the hearing of a Matter of Urgent Public Importance raised by Hon. Elizabeth Ativie on the menace of a mysterious wild fire ravaging farms in Uhunmwode Local Government Area in the past two weeks.
According to Hon. Ativie, the mysterious wild fire has been spreading across many farmlands in Uhi, Irhue ward, particularly Orhua and Umokpe communities in Uhunmwode Local Government Area destroying cash crops and other farm produce which serve as economic mainstay of the farmers and now left them in dire need of help, haven worsened their hardship.
The Lawmakers who condemned the act of bush burning as a method of preparing the soil for cultivation early in the dry seasons condemned bush burning and canvassed for more emphasis anti-bush burning enlightenment campaign by concerned authorities.
The majority on Leader, Hon. Foly Ogedengbe, stated that some hunters prefer burning bushes to catch bushmeat, noting that it must be discouraged.
He urged relevant departments in the councils to enlighten farmers on the dangers inherent in bush burning.
Hon. Victor Edoror, Edo State House of Assembly Speaker
