Africa-Press – Kenya. Farmers in Kisumu County claim that the red-billed quelea bird population has exploded there, ravaging 300 acres (120 hectares) of rice.
To the satisfaction of the farmers, the ministry of agriculture authorised spraying of avicide
expressed Jared Odoyo, chairman, West Kano Irrigation Scheme.
The government started looking at approaches of controlling the bird and the quick fix for the government — they looked at aerial spraying using avicides and these are chemicals which they spray over the birds and the birds die.
Environmental lobby groups say it is a “quick fix” that has adverse effects on the environment. They say the avicide is toxic to humans but also to non-targeted organisms.
According to Paul Gacheru, wildlife ecologist, Nature Kenya, a local affiliate of Birdlife International, it is important for the government to consider other environmentally-friendly methods.
he added.
An ongoing drought has decimated the horn of Africa and led to a reduction in native grass — the quelea’s main source of food.
This leaves the birds with no alternative but to feed on grain fields.
According to the Food and Agricultural Organization, a single quelea can eat up to 10 grams of grain in a day.
In 2021, crop losses attributed to the bird amounted to $50 million.
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