More dispatched to control quelea birds

quelea birds.
PPU director Dr Godfrey Chikwenhere said Zimbabwe had enough Queleatox to deal with the pest.
“Initially we had 800 litres of the chemical from our last year reserves and received another 1 000 litres from the South African government.
“We distributed the chemical in all provinces and controlling is in progress,” he said.
Dr Chikwenhere said the pests usually favour small grains or grass seeds.
“Farmers should not burn grass since this would leave small gains as the only source of food,” he said.
In Zimbabwe the pest is common in Matabeleland South and North provinces, Manicaland, Mashonaland West and Central and Masvingo. He said the pest had so far reached Gwanda, Beitbridge, Umzingwane, Kezi and Plumtree but the PPU had managed to control it.
“Our officers are across these areas spraying at night and there is high mortality of the pest. It is still very difficult for us to have statistics since people are picking them up for relish.
“The reason why people are resorting to these birds for food is because their areas were affected by the recent dry spell.”
He urged farmers to make use of the traditional methods while informing Agritex officers, police or any other Government worker in the area. The traditional methods include using scarecrows, ringing bells and making noise to scare the birds away.
Dr Chikwenhere said they have to deal with the birds since the winter crop is around the corner hence the need for combined efforts by the community and farmers.
Farmers should destroy the eggs when they see them so as to break the life cycle.
“We aim to destroy the eggs because once they start flying it becomes difficult for us to control them,” he said.
The birds target sorghum in its soft dough or milk stage. PPU said the birds were being suspected to be from Botswana’s Tobe National Park or Hwange and Gonarezhou National Parks.