QUELEA BIRDS AND TYPHA GRASS-JIGAWA STATE AS A CASE STUDY

QUELEA BIRDS AND TYPHA GRASS




The source of the birds that bombarded Jigawa State in Nigeria is unknown at the time of this writing (1997 Oct.). However, they are believed to be rotating among countries like Nigeria, Niger, Mali and Chad. The birds are migrating depending on the conduciveness of the environment which they found themselves.



On the other hand, it was argued that the birds (quella) are part of the ecosystem of Jigawa, Yobe and Borno States and that they have been there for years. The reason for the uncertainty in the source of the birds is largely due to the proliferation in their number and the unprecedented destruction; they have visited on farmlands in the year 1997.



It was argued that the increment in population and their attendant evil was facilitated by the existence of an equally mysterious grass called Typha or Elephant grass. The generosity of this grass attracted the birds more than before to that particular area and it provides both rooting and breeding space for them.



This grass has also completely blocked the Hadejia-Jamaare River down to Lake Chad (a distance of about 1,000 km) thereby making fishing occupation cumber-some for the inhabitants because the Hadejia-Jamaare River apart from its fertile arable farmlands is a veritable fish farming zone. Fish-farming to the inhabitants, is the next occupation to crop farming.



Unlike Typha grass, water hyacinth, an aquatic super weed kills fish, interferes with boats and changes the ecology of lakes. Reportedly, floating mats of the weeds can double in size in less than two weeks, removes oxygen from the water raises acidity, and slows down its flows, increasing silt deposits. It provides cover for crocodiles thereby posing a danger for people collecting water.



This grass which naturally breeds birds also constitutes a palpable impediment to fish-farming, call it “Natural Conservation”. The growth of this grass has no adverse effect on the fish itself or its aquatic life but would not give room for the hide-out for the fish which has to come out in the open to be caught. Judging from the above, traditional methods of fish- farming is employed and this method only accounts for a small proportion of the fish population thereby fulfilling the aim of conservation in a natural way.



It was reported that the reason for the high existence of Typha grass is that the velocity in the flow of the river Hadejia as well as its channels, including the Jamaare River have slowed down considerably over the years due to low amount of rainfall. The closure of the Challawa dam in 1992 was said to have contributed in no small measure to the growth of the Typha grass (Kachalla: Local name). This is because any water that is moving slowly has the capacity of enabling segments to settle down and once the segments are settled they would be colonized by vegetation.



The growth of the grass and shortage in rainfall over the years is not attributable to man’s handiwork but a reflection of the God’s concern for the conservation of Quelea birds and fish in the affected area. However, it saddens one’s heart to see that the area which accounts for over 40% of the total production of millet, Sorghum, rice and fish production in Nigeria is also done in a very large commercial quantity is vulnerable to the massive destruction by the presence of Quelea birds ably assisted by Typha grass.



In appraising the advantages which the control method the scourge of Quella birds and fish of Hadejia river have over the abandonment of the same area for the continuation of the species of Quelea birds and fish of Hadejia River recourse is made to several local methods adopted in the past which methods have proved abortive because of the limited time of effectiveness which boils down to inefficiency. These methods which range from the use of family members to make some weird shouts, firing of Dane guns, making occasional sounds at some strategic positions at the top of trees between 4am to 7pm, so also the spraying of Kerosene on the roofs of the grass in the river side are not only ineffective but dangerous to human health and environment.



Apart from the inefficiency aforesaid, the other seemingly effective sophisticated method is also delectable because of the huge amount of money involved. This control method of discarding the habitat of the Quella birds is the best because it debases the root of the purported evil. The rhetorical questions to be asked here is this, is there any justification for the eradication of the existence of the Quelea birds? Will the method bring a permanent control of the scourge? Is there any justification for the huge investment on the control method? Is there any alternative farming in the affected area? Will the country truly experience famine and high rate of crime as contemplated due to the shortage in supply of millet, sorghum and rice? Are other crops like pepper, beans tomatoes as important as millet, Sorghum and rice? Will the occupation of the people as farmers be adversely affected by planting other crops not vulnerable to the menace of Quelea birds?



On justification of the huge investment on eradication, it suffices to state that no matter the degree of sophistication of the control method, it still remains temporary and the difference only lies in the duration of temporary effectiveness of the traditional and modern control method. It was reported in the Source Magazine of October 13 1997 edition that the affected kirikassama communities has coughed out N250,000 on this project without success so also, their Guri counterpart has spent over N100,000 within five weeks in a similar effort. Huge amount of money was also spent purchasing Kerosene for spraying not minding its scarcity and cost. These efforts have not yielded any positive report. The Jigawa State Government out of its dwindling internally generated revenue unsuccessfully committed over N20million in curbing the menace of quella birds and Typha grass. However, it is estimated that the Jigawa State would need about N150 million to effectively combat the scourge. On the other hand, it was contemplated that about N500 million will be needed for the efforts which take another dimension of aerial battle through the use of chemicals and aircrafts



That there is no justification for such huge investment due to the temporaries of the achieved efficiency of whatever method employed and worse still, the use of chemicals is a direct pollution of the environment which may claim the lives of the inhabitants, the quella birds and fish of Hadejia River. It is clear from various reports that whatever success achieved will be short-lived and the aim of such investment is subsequently defeated. Moreover, the proposed method which involves the dredging and properly channeling Hadejia- Jamaare River to allow for free flow of water, which cost is estimated at N2billion naira is not only wasteful but unnecessary in view of Jigawa State’s pressing financial responsibilities and the option of alternative farming. The funds should be used for other unaccomplished assignments in the improvements of welfare and wellbeing of the indigenes of Jigawa State.



Jigawa State should save its economy and research into a natural way the problem can be solved if it is seen as a problem. History is kind to record how beetles (insects) came to the rescue of Benin Republic when two species of beetles were credited with saving the economy of the West African country’s 260 million dollars over 20 years on the menace of water hyacinth. The two species of weevil that eat water hyacinth and nothing else-have succeeded where machinery has failed and where chemicals would pollute the water and kill other plants.



The channeling of the river can only reduce the enormity of the grass because it grows naturally and the source of the growth can never be discarded even if Hadejia River is drained completely. It can only disappear to resurface again depending on the climatic condition. With the tendency of future growth of the grass, permanence of the existence of Quelea birds is almost assured notwithstanding the fact that the birds are migratory in nature. Wherever they migrate to they will still come back especially during their breeding season. This is further corroborated by the statement credited to the co-coordinator International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) that the birds are part of the ecosystem and that they have been there for years.



Another problem with the channelization of the river is that when it is successfully done the river will be vulnerable to dryness especially during dry season. The consequence of this is the loss of its fish as part of the nation’s natural resources as the habitat would have been altered and tampered with adversely.



The assertion on the imminence of famine as an aftermath of the reduction in the production of millet, sorghum and rice remains insupportable because the affected areas have been recording losses since 1993 and that between 1993 and 1995 about 120,000 tons of millet, 90,000 tons of sorghum, between 8,000 – 10,000 tons of rice were lost. During the period of these losses, Nigerians have been enjoying the consumption of millet, sorghum and rice both during and off the season of the crops.



The problem of losses aforesaid was a direct consequence of natural disaster which may come in different forms. We have seen cases of natural disasters like flood, locusts, plants disease outbreak and host of others in the past. They have all come and gone in a natural way despite various attempts at human controls. The scourge of quelea birds as a natural disaster will take care of itself as it has happened in the past.



It is also contended that the imminent growth in the rate of crime has no basis in the shortage of supply of production of the affected crops because it is the form that is affected and not the substance. The farming occupation of the people remains unchanged as the substance while the production of the affected crops remained threatened as the form.



Attention should be shifted to other important crops like pepper, tomatoes and other crops not prone to Quelea birds’ attack even if it meant procuring fertilizers for the same coupled with clement climatic and soil condition of the area. The money estimated for the permanent control of the birds should be diverted to the provision of other social basic amenities like potable water, electricity, good roads and better educational system.





These public utilities should be placed over and above the investment on the eradication of the scourges of quelea birds the purpose which may not be achieved in totality. If half of the N20, 350, 00 invested on the eradication of the scourge in vain was used for the provision of social infrastructures the Hadejia farmers would not have opted or insisted on permanent solution because they would have tasted the beauty of modern farming technology. Planting of alternative crops which also brings profit without minding the reduction in the returns would have been encouraged.





SIKIRU OLANREWAJU ADEWOYE ESQ.