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The government, through the State Department for Agriculture, has deployed drones to target over 5 million quelea birds that have been damaging wheat, sunflower, and barley crops in Narok County.
At the launch of a five-day spraying operation at Sansora farm, located on the border of Narok and Nakuru counties, Dr. Paul Ronoh, Principal Secretary for Agriculture, disclosed that farmers were losing around Sh2.2 million daily due to the birds, which consume more than 50,000 kilograms of grain each day.
Dr. Ronoh explained that five drones have been released to spray the birds’ breeding areas during the evening, when the birds are at rest.
“Each bird can consume up to 10 grams of grain a day; this infestation poses a serious threat to food production, potentially leading to a loss of 30 metric tonnes of wheat daily,” he stated.
The PS also shared that his department is working with the Agriculture Finance Corporation (AFC) to compensate farmers who have lost crops to the birds.
“The operation is a joint effort with county governments. Our goal is to eliminate over 5 million quelea birds that have been decimating our crops,” he added.
Ms. Joyce Keshe, Narok County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture, emphasized that both the national and county governments are collaborating to prevent further losses from the bird menace.
She urged farmers to cooperate with her department by reporting bird breeding sites, so they can be targeted during the spraying operation.
Keshe expressed concern over the significant losses caused by the birds, noting that many wheat farmers had abandoned the crop in favor of potatoes due to the bird problem.
“We want to encourage farmers to continue growing wheat on a large scale. The government is committed to eliminating the threat from the quelea birds. We will continue using advanced technology to ensure their eradication,” she said.
Extension officers have been tasked with monitoring the birds’ movements and identifying their roosting areas.
Narok County is a key producer of wheat and barley, particularly in the Mau region, which sees large-scale cultivation of these crops.
Farmers, including Daniel Naikuni, expressed gratitude for the government’s initiative, acknowledging the heavy losses caused by the birds.
“Some farmers had stopped planting wheat and switched to potato farming, but with the government’s assurance of eliminating the birds, we are committed to growing wheat on a large scale again,” Naikuni said.
One acre of land yields up to 20 bags of wheat, and with current prices at Sh5,000 per bag, the potential revenue is significant.
The wheat planting season in Narok runs from January to April, depending on the region.
