Most farmers in the area were this year contracted by a local beverage manufacturing company to farm millet, sorghum and rapoko. The famers fear that they might not able to fulfil their contractual obligations with the company because of the birds.
Some of the farmers spend their days clanging metal objects and shouting at the tops of their voices in a desperate bid to save their crop from the birds. There are fears that the outbreak of the birds could destroy sorghum worth thousands of dollars.
“The outbreak of the birds will definitely lead to a deficit in the sorghum crop output in the area,” said Joyce Moyo, a farmer in the area.
Another farmer, Same Mukwiyo, said this year she decided to plant millet after a local company promised to pay her on delivery of the crop.
“We have had payment problems with the Grain Marketing Board. This year a local company promised us cash if we ventured into small grains. If something is not done, we might fail to meet contractual obligations,” said Mukwiyo. Quelea birds cause extensive damage to cereal grains, especially wheat, rice, barely, sorghum and millet.
Post published in: News