Zimbabwe: Quelea Birds Invade Mat North Farms, Destroy Wheat

Wheat

Zimbabwe

Published Sep 7, 2020

Tridge summary

Spread This News QUELEA birds have invaded parts of Nyamandlovu and Bubi commercial farming areas in Matabeleland North to feast on ripe wheat. This has forced apprehensive farmers to spend entire days clanging metal objects and shouting at the top of their voices while trying to scare the marauding birds and save their crops. There are fears the bird invasion could destroy wheat worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in the province.

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Said Trymore Nkomo, a farmer in Nyamandlovu, "I lost almost a quarter of my wheat crop to quelea birds. I had been contracted to grow the crop by a local company. "The outbreak of the birds is going to leave a lot of farmers with a crop deficit." Another farmer, Marvellous Nyakudya said this year she decided to plant wheat after the government promised to increase the producer price of the cereal. "This year, I ventured into wheat farming after the government promised to review the price of the product upwards. I have now realised that I made a mistake because the crop has got a lot of risks. "So far, I have lost almost a third of a hectare to the birds. Next season, I will revert back to growing maize," said Nyakudya. Matabeleland North Provincial Agritex Officer Dumisani Nyoni said the Agritex department was aware of the invasion of quelea birds in the province. "Quelea birds are a perennial problem especially during this time of the season. We have received a report of the ...

Source: All Africa