Online Reporter
Precious Manomano
Herald Reporter
THE Government has deployed a multipronged approach to protect this year’s winter wheat crop from quelea birds, a migratory pest capable of destroying thousands of hectares in a matter of hours.
The strategy combines aerial spraying, deployment of drone technology, ground surveillance and ward rapid-response teams, while engendering farmer discipline to safeguard the crop.
Quelea birds are small but destructive migratory pests that consume up to 10 grammes of grain per day, and when flocking in their millions, they can decimate more than 40 000 tonnes of wheat in a single day.
To counter this threat, the Government has intensified aerial spraying using advanced technology.
Drones and aircraft are being deployed nationwide, applying chemicals such as Fenthion 640ULV in hotspot areas.
For example, 9 000 birds were eradicated in Goromonzi, 44 963 in Buhera, more than 20 000 in Chimanimani, 5 000 in the Midlands and over 200 000 in various parts of Masvingo Province.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Professor Obert Jiri, said the strategy blends modern tools with traditional methods to ensure maximum impact.
“We are utilising every tool at our disposal, from drones and aircraft to on-the-ground teams, to ensure our wheat crop is protected,” he said.
“The private sector’s role in financing and operational support is critical as we work to achieve national food security targets.”
The approach also includes a nationwide surveillance and rapid-response system.
Ward-level monitoring centres are tracking roosting sites across all major wheat-growing areas, allowing authorities to act quickly before birds wipe out large hectarages.
“An uncontrolled roost can devastate hundreds of hectares,” Prof Jiri said.
“Our surveillance and rapid-response teams are ensuring that doesn’t happen.”
Alongside Government interventions, experts stress the importance of agronomic discipline by farmers.
Acting chief director at the Agricultural Rural Development Advisory Services (ARDAS), Mr Leonard Munamati, urged farmers to follow best practices such as irrigating early to minimise evaporation, scouting fields weekly for pests and diseases and applying herbicides as needed.
The measures also include traditional netting techniques and the deployment of nine newly acquired Agras T40 drones for targeted spraying.
