Ekiti State Government has warned people of the State against bush burning in order to curtail the harmful practice that is fast becoming a leading cause of soil degradation and erosion as well as low agricultural soil productivity in Africa.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Ebenezer Boluwade who gave the warning in a statement made available to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti noted that anyone caught in the nefarious act will face the wrath of the law in line with provisions of the State Law against bush burning.

The Commissioner stressed that the Bush burning has been a common occurrence during the dry season noting that some farmers embark on the harmful practice to clear land for cultivation, control pests while others do it out of the erroneous believe that it enhances soil fertility.

He said people in some areas also use Bush burning as a process for hunting wild animals, as some hunters use fire to drive out animals from their hiding places.

The Commissioner therefore affirms that the State Government frowns at Bush burning because of its negative effects on the environment, infrastructure livelihoods and health of the citizens and the economy as well as because of the fact that it causes air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions soil degradation and loss of biodiversity

Boluwade therefore charged all concerned to shun the act in compliance with the States Government warning.