The hectarage put under wheat in Manicaland this year fell to 2 514 from 3 580 last year partly due to fear of losses caused by quelea birds. Manicaland provincial agronomist Mr Thomas Sakuhuni said last week that farmers were nervous about planting wheat because the roosting period for quelea birds was approaching.

“Last year, quelea birds wreaked untold havoc on the winter crop, which led to a decrease in the hectarage put under wheat in Manicaland,” he said. “There were 2 514 hectares of wheat planted this year compared to last year’s 3 580 hectares that were planted throughout the province.”

Mr Sakuhuni said the decrease in hectarage was also attributable to other factors, which included delays in the distribution of inputs.

He said the area that was affected most by fear of quelea birds was Middle Sabi.
“Middle Sabi used to produce 25 percent of Zimbabwe’s wheat on 5 000 to 8 000 hectares and used to be regarded as one of the wheat strongholds of the nation,” said Mr Sakuhuni.

“Due to the quelea menace, the area has not been able to replicate that showing this time around, as farmers seem to be chickening out of the programme.

“Measures that can be taken to mitigate the situation include spraying roosting areas, as any other means may not be good enough for the task. What we need to do is to sterilise the males but if we do that we will be terminating the species with time.”

Mr Sakuhuni said spraying might, however, help exterminate the birds and save the crop from total destruction, which would also ensure food security.

“Over the years we have heard of flocks that have become so daring that they have affected many areas in the country,” he said. “However, some people like to keep these birds on their farms although they are affecting most parts of the province.”

Mr Sakuhuni also observed that some people in Chipinge were fighting the birds using nets, which was a good idea but not very effective.