Parks And Arex Embark On Massive Quelea-Spraying

Source: The Herald

Date: 21 August 2006

Author: Thupeyo Muleya

The Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, in conjunction with the Department of Agricultural Research and Extension Services (Arex), has embarked on massive quelea bird-spraying in Beitbridge, an official has said.

In an interview last week, Parks spokesman Retired Major Edward Mbewe said the programme commenced at Nottingham Estate on Wednesday.

He said the spraying exercise was instituted following recommendations by analysis teams from his department, that the birds were posing a potential threat to some small-scale farms and newly resettled areas in Beitbridge.

Rtd Maj Mbewe said enough resources had been mobilised to implement the programme.

"This time we are facing big roosters in this area and hence we are spraying areas covering between 40 and 37 square kilometres," he said.

Arex had provided quelotex chemical for spraying.

"We are working hand in glove with teams from Operation Maguta," Rtd Maj Mbewe said.

From Beitbridge, the spraying teams would move to other areas outside the district which are the worst affected by the birds.

Quelea birds are wreaking havoc on the winter wheat crop across the country, thereby threatening the projected target this season.

Zimbabwe Farmers' Union vice president Mr Edward Raradza last week said the most affected areas were Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central and Manicaland provinces.

"The projected yield is under threat from the devastating effect of the quelea birds, particularly in Mashonaland East, West and Central and Manicaland.

"Farmers in the provinces have raised concern over the slow reaction by Arex and the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority in controlling the birds," Mr Raradza said.

Other reports of quelea outbreak have been made in Chisumbaje and Matabeleland South.

Quelea birds are one of the most destructive pests in the world, causing great damage to cereal crops such as wheat, sorghum and millet at milky and ripening stage.

Last year, Zimbabwe lost billions of dollars worth of wheat when these problematic birds destroyed almost half of last season's winter crop.

Mr Raradza also said there was urgent need to control the birds to maximise yields.

Arex director Mr Shadreck Mlambo also called on farmers to urgently report any sightings of quelea so that experts could be deployed to the affected areas before the birds caused any damage to the winter wheat crop.

The winter wheat season is progressing well in some parts of the country where the crop is nearing maturity.

At least 60 000 hectares of land has been put under wheat this year.