By Maricho Reporter
Government has imported chemicals to control the menacing quelea birds as part of efforts to deal with the birds.
According to Information, Publicity & Broadcasting Services Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa, “the necessary chemical has now been received from Kenya and China”.
Reports suggest that at least 30% of this year’s winter wheat crop could be wiped out by quelea birds.
As a lasting solution, government approved plans to establish a Migratory Pest Control Unit in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement to ensure surveillance of all important pests – quelea, locust and armyworm as quelea bird menace remains a major threat in all provinces.
Farmers are currently accessing bird shield chemical from the Grain Marketing Board.
The use of drones to complement knapsack spraying has also been adopted to improve efficiency and reduce costs as efforts to save the crop from the migratory birds continue.
The Migratory Pest Control Unit is expected to train farmers on surveillance; react to outbreaks timely; coordinate stakeholder efforts; and mobilise resources for adequate and effective responses.