TACKLING BUSH BURNING IS THE FOCUS OF TODAY’S VIEWPOINT. IT IS WRITTEN BY EMMANUEL DADA, A YOUTH CORPS MEMBER IN THE NEWS AND CURRENT AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT.
As the dry season tightens its grip and harmattan winds begin to sweep across Nigeria, the country braces itself for the annual hazard of bush burning.
Bush burning is the practice of setting fire to vegetation, either intentionally or accidentally.
In Nigeria, it is a common occurrence during the dry season when grasses and weeds are dry and flammable.
Bush burning is mainly done for agricultural purposes, such as clearing land for cultivation and controlling pests.
It is also done for hunting, as some hunters use fire to drive out animals from their hiding places.
While many farmers and hunters resort to this method for land clearing and pest control, the implication extends far beyond the perceived immediate agricultural benefits.
Bush burning has many negative effects on the environment, health, and economy.
This practice, which is a mix of tradition and carelessness, always leaves trails of devastation in its wake.
It is a menace whose effects ripple through the environment, human health, agriculture, and even national security.
Addressing the consequences of bush burning requires a collective awakening and immediate proactive measures.
Although the practice has been largely condemned, it remains a recurring activity during dry season in Nigeria.
For some farmers, it is an age-old method of clearing land and fertilizing the soil with ash
Hunters torch bushes to flush out game, while herders sometimes ignite fields to encourage the growth of tender grass for their cattle.
In some cases, fire outbreaks occur accidentally, often from discarded cigarette butts or the unchecked burning of refuse near farmlands.
Unfortunately, what many see as a quick solution often escalates into an uncontrollable fire outbreak, growing out of proportion and destroying properties.
Over the years, experts have explained that the long-term impact of bush burning is that it strips the soil of its nutrients, making it harder for farmers to grow crops and over time.
This leads to food shortages and poverty, creating a vicious cycle of suffering.
For a country like Nigeria where agriculture plays a vital role in the economy and is also the backbone of rural livelihoods, the effects of bush burning on farming are devastating.
Over time, this necessitates the use of chemical fertilizers, which also further degrades soil health.
Also, bush burning produces large amounts of smoke which contains harmful substances, such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, and volatile organic compounds.
These are harmful for human and animal health and contribute to global warming and climate change.
Bush burning is also a major cause of respiratory diseases like asthma and bronchitis.
Tackling the problem of bush burning requires a multifaceted approach which involves serious community engagement.
Communities must ensure the establishment of fire watch groups, especially during the dry season, to monitor and swiftly respond to fire outbreaks.
The harmattan season should not always signal destruction.
With deliberate efforts, Nigeria can break the cycle of annual bush fires and their devastating consequences.
This requires a cultural shift from viewing bush burning as a norm to recognizing it as a threat to our environment, health, and economy.
Bearing in mind that tackling bush burning is not just an environmental necessity, but a collective responsibility that determines the future of Nigeria’s ecological landscapes.
Therefore, it is imperative that stakeholders including government agencies, agricultural organizations, and local communities collaborate to find sustainable solutions that protect both livelihoods and the environment as we navigate through this dry season and beyond.
THAT VIEWPOINT ON TACKLING BUSH BURNING WAS WRITTEN BY EMMANUEL DADA, A YOUTH CORPS MEMBER IN THE NEWS AND CURRENT AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT.
