Drones, aircraft to fight quelea birds

Theseus Shambare

Herald Reporter

GOVERNMENT has activated a full-scale aerial and ground response, including drones and aircraft, to combat quelea birds, which pose a serious threat to the country’s winter wheat crop now entering critical growth stages.

With Zimbabwe’s wheat mostly at late vegetative and booting stages, the threat from quelea birds—infamous for decimating cereal crops—has escalated.

Authorities Are now intensifying nationwide surveillance and eradication operations as the crop transitions into the reproductive stage.

Farmers are also employing traditional methods such as beating drums, clanging metal objects, setting off fireworks and using scarecrows or reflective tape to frighten away quelea birds, while some resort to poisoning roosting sites under expert supervision.

A single flock of quelea birds can contain over a million individuals, each capable of consuming up to 10 grammes of grain daily. In just one day, such a flock can wipe out 10 tonnes of wheat. Left unchecked, they can reduce yields by as much as 80 percent—posing a major threat to Zimbabwe’s growing wheat self-sufficiency. In an interview in Goromonzi on Friday, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri said it is now high time to ensure the planted crop is safeguarded from these migratory pests.

“We are now deep in the winter wheat production season. Most of the top dressing is done, and now it’s time to protect the crop. Quelea birds are a real menace at this stage,” said Prof Jiri.

“To safeguard the national crop, the Government has deployed nine surveillance and spraying drones—one per province—vehicle-mounted sprayers, ground forces and aircraft through partnerships with private air service providers such as Falcon Air.

“These drones are ready and on standby to target roosting sites across all provinces. Where the threat is concentrated, we deploy all nine drones at once for maximum control. We are also using nets and, where necessary, aircraft to spray high-risk areas.”

Over 122 000 hectares have been planted this season, surpassing the initial target of 120 000 hectares.

Output is projected at 600 000 tonnes, a significant leap from last year’s 468 000 tonnes. This would leave a surplus of 240 000 tonnes beyond Zimbabwe’s annual consumption requirement of 360 000 tonnes, positioning the country to sustain wheat self-sufficiency and even build a strategic reserve.

“Protecting this crop is crucial,” said Prof Jiri. “We urge farmers to report any quelea

sightings—whether in fields, bushes, or roosting places—to their local agricultural business advisory officers, National Parks, or the command centre.”

Zimbabwe’s wheat production has steadily increased since 2021, aided by the Second

Republic’s push for import substitution, contract farming and Presidential Input Schemes. Provinces like Mashonaland West, East and Central have led in hectare production, with growing contributions from Midlands, Manicaland and Masvingo.