The government has launched an aerial spraying in Ahero and West Kano irrigation schemes in a bid to control quelea birds invasion that has brought massive losses in the schemes.
The operation to wipe out the destructive quelea birds that have invaded rice farms in will begin on January 13th.
Experts from the County Department of Agriculture have confirmed that some 300 acres of rice fields have been destroyed by the birds with 2000 acres under threat.
Our operation will cover the National Irrigation Authority area in Muhoroni, Awach kano, Ogange, Amboo, Okana, Ogongo, Kudho, Haro and Alara
CEC KEN ONYANGO
Kisumu County Executive Member for Agriculture Ken Onyango in a press statement said the Crop Protection and Safety from Nairobi has been dispatched to start a massive spraying.
The campaign is targeting to eradicate 5.8 million birds in nine different locations where the birds hide at night.
“Our operation will cover the National Irrigation Authority area in Muhoroni, Awach kano, Ogange, Amboo, Okana, Ogongo, Kudho, Haro and Alara,” said Onyango.
Migratory birds
According to reports from the county experts most of the birds have migrated to Okana Irrigation scheme from Kisumu East Sub- County.
They also attributed the surge to unsynchronised cropping calendar in the rice schemes and the growing of sorghum.
During a recent interview with Lake Region Bulletin Land Dispute and Resolution Committee Chairman Kennedy Sinogo, the migratory birds started flocking 3 months ago but have been here over the years.
Following the invasion, the farmers have been forced to employ four casual workers to guard an acre of rice.
Each casual worker is paid Sh1000 per month to scare the birds away.