Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe, Zimpapers Business Hub
Government will not hesitate to deploy aircrafts to combat the spread of quelea birds in a bid to safeguard the country’s winter wheat crop, which has now reached its critical reproductive stage.
In an update, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Professor Obert Jiri, said surveillance operations were being heightened following sightings of roosting sites in various parts of the country.
“Roosting sites are beginning to manifest and, over the weekend, we had sightings in Matabeleland North’s Mary Ellen area, as well as in Plumtree,” said Prof Jiri.
Recent operations have already recorded successes, with around 6 000 birds controlled in Goromonzi and more than 40 000 in Chiredzi.
“This calls for us to expedite and increase surveillance and control,” he said.
Prof Jiri outlined the country’s preparedness, revealing that Government has mobilised significant resources, including 45 mist blowers, four vehicle-mounted sprayers, nine drones and a well-equipped network of District Agriculture Extension Officers.
“Our extension officers were recently equipped with vehicles by President Mnangagwa. It’s all systems go in terms of quelea control. We are ready and do not want to lose any of our wheat grain. If necessary, aircraft will be deployed to ensure we reach quelea roosting sites as quickly as possible,” he said.
The intervention comes at a time when Zimbabwe is poised for a record winter wheat harvest. Farmers have already surpassed the 120,000-hectare planting target for the 2025 season, with over 122,142 hectares planted by mid-June.
