Birds destroy Burkina Faso millet crops
Farmers in Bourasso commune face significant losses as granivorous birds attack fields before harvest.
Producers in Burkina Faso's Bourasso commune are battling granivorous birds that are destroying cereal crops, particularly millet. The attacks, occurring in villages like Bourasso, Sikoro, Kamiankoro, and Kodougou, compound existing challenges from poor rainfall. Farmers are spending long hours in fields trying to protect their harvests.
Joel Coulibaly, a producer from Kamiankoro, reported that one hectare of his millet crop has already been devastated. He expressed fears of famine, stating that most producers in his village face similar destruction. Blaise Traoré, a producer and VDP volunteer in Sikoro, noted that farmers are forced to harvest prematurely to salvage any grain, leading to substantial losses.
The producers of Bourasso commune are appealing to authorities for urgent measures to combat the granivorous birds. This new threat follows a difficult agricultural season marked by late and uneven rainfall, and an early end to precipitation. The birds are targeting crops before they fully mature, jeopardizing food security for households.
Why it mattersFarmers in Bourasso commune are facing potential famine due to bird attacks on their millet crops, adding to difficulties from poor rainfall.