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Walter Nyamukondiwa in Darwendale
A global network of innovators in food systems under the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is in the country to appreciate Zimbabwe’s interventions in quelea bird control.
The team is comprised of experts from 20 countries including Peru, Ethiopia, Jordan, Argentina, South Africa and Bosnia Herzegovina among others.
Quelea birds are a growing and evolving menace for producers of cereals, particularly wheat where they can account for up to 95 percent loss.
The team toured Hunyani Farm in Darwendale belonging to Mr Peter Drummond where over 200ha of wheat and barley are under threat from quelea birds.
Accelerator Labs under the UNDP is carrying out research in different countries to manage challenges in food production across 114 countries.
Accelerator Labs team leader Ms Gina Lucarelli said Zimbabwe had talented people and the team is in the country to see how the Government, its agencies such as Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and communities are dealing with the challenge of quelea birds.
“The challenge of quelea birds is evolving and climate change has led to the birds breeding more, posing a threat to wheat production,” said Ms Lucarelli.
Mr Drummond said hiring workers to scare off the quelea birds, applying pesticides and other interventions were increasing the cost of wheat production.
A team from Pegara Incorporated demonstrated interventions using Artificial Intelligence (AI) where speakers mounted on drones producing sounds of the birds’ natural predators, the falcon and other noises are used to scare them away.
The Japanese Embassy in Zimbabwe is supporting the project, which has been running for the past two years.
Online Reporter