Wheat harvesting intensifies

. . . quelea threat eliminated

QUELEA birds will not pose a significant threat to wheat farmers this year as more than 100 roosting sites have been destroyed, with 75 percent of the crop now at maturity stage.

Harvesting is currently underway in some areas.

Satellite data shows that Zimbabwe is expected to harvest a record 415 000 tonnes of the cereal, up from 380 000 tonnes last year.

This year, the Government established an online quelea command centre, which provides real-time data to the Agricultural Advisory and Rural Development Services’ head office.

This was part of a multi-pronged strategy — which included using airplanes, motorised boom sprayers, nets and newly acquired hi-tech agricultural drones — implemented through the Migratory Pests and Biosecurity Control Department (MPBCD).

The small red-billed weaver bird is considered the most destructive to cereal grains like wheat, sorghum, millet, rice and barley.

According to experts, quelea birds account for 95 percent of wheat losses annually.

director Mr Shingirai MPBCD Nyamutukwa told The Sunday

Mail that threats of quelea attacks have been significantly reduced.

“We are pleased to announce that our concerted efforts were not in vain. Although we recorded reports, our preparations were equal to the task,” he said.

“We successfully attended to 114 roosting sites from all the wheat-producing areas.

“Although our farmers planted the largest-ever hectarage, we employed all the available methods to ensure we jealously protect the much-needed cereal.

“The adoption of technology through the use of drones was a game changer.

“Last year, we had to complement our fight with the use of planes, which proved to be more expensive for farmers, but during this season, we shifted to drone aerial precision spray, which is cheaper but effective.”

With most farmers busy with harvesting in all provinces, he said,“reports of quelea outbreaks have gone down from a peak of more than 35 reports to less than five reports per week”.

“On average, 75 percent of the wheat crop has reached hard dough stage, with 25 percent at soft dough stage throughout the country.

“Farmers who planted late are still reporting outbreaks, especially in Mashonaland Central (Mt Darwin), Mashonaland West (Darwendale) and Manicaland (Mutare),” Mr Nyamutukwa added.

“We can safely say that the major risk of losing most of our crop to quelea birds has been averted, considering the stocks of chemical that we have against the few reports currently being received.”

Mr Lloyd Chitate, a committee member of the Nyamavanga Farmers Association in Mazowe, Mashonaland Central, said: “We only battled the birds for a few days when wheat was maturing but after we made reports to the ministry, they responded instantly.

“Their service was effective because soon after they sprayed the roosting sites, we never saw them again. Even some of the chemicals they had given us for emergencies are still in our stocks.”

Another farmer from Glendale, Mrs Junior Makiiwa-Chisoko, who planted 35 hectares (ha) under the Government-monitored joint venture framework, said signs were pointing to a successful season.

“I feel this is the year of my success. From timeous input delivery, non-interrupted electricity, to effective quelea bird response, all these factors contributed to the success.

“I am expecting an average of seven tonnes per hectare this year, no doubt,” she said.

At least 3 000ha have already been harvested at an average of 6,58 tonnes per hectare, an improvement from last year’s average of 4,8 tonnes per hectare, latest figures from Government show.