Quelea bird invasion costs wheat farmers Sh2m daily

A farm worker blows a vuvuzela to scare away quelea birds from a wheat farm in Tipis, Nakuru County, on December 3, 2024. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

From a distance, the buzzing noise of vuvuzelas blown in wheat and barley farms in Tipis, Mau Narok will be confusing for a group of fans who have gathered to cheer their team.

The noise is, however, meant to keep away thousands of quelea birds that have invaded the wheat farms causing massive destruction.

The birds, according to farmers, have camped in the area destroying the crop.

The Standard witnessed the destruction caused by the farm on Tuesday evening as a swarm of birds raised farms.

Like a swarm of locusts, the small birds weighing approximately 20 grams move from one farm to the other. 

A flock of quelea birds swarms over a wheat farm in Tipis, Nakuru County, on December 3, 2024. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

Patrick Kol, one of the large-scale wheat farmers, said he has lost close to an acre of his wheat to the birds.

“I employed around three people to be moving around the farm blowing vuvuzelas to keep away the birds,” he said.

Kol said each of the vuvuzela blowers is paid Sh500 a day.

Joshua Cheruiyot, the deputy director of agriculture in Narok County,  said over five million birds invaded the farms.

Cheruiyot said farmers lose 50,000 kilograms of wheat daily valued at Sh2.2 million. “On average farmers lose 50,000 kilograms daily, translating to 555 bags,” he said. The farmers noted that the movement of the birds from one region to another poses a significant danger to Agriculture resulting in food insecurity.

Each bird is estimated to consume about 10 grams of wheat daily.

On Tuesday, Principal Secretary in the State Department of Agriculture Paul Ronoh, launched the use of drones to control the birds.

Using the drone, the birds roosting grounds will be sprayed with chemicals hence killing them. 

A dead quelea bird lies in a wheat farm in Tipis, Nakuru County, on December 3, 2024, after being eliminated through drone spraying. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

The birds, he noted have raided wheat farms in Melili, Olorropil, and Olokurto Wards in the Narok North sub-county.

Speaking at the launch in Mau Narok, Narok County, Dr Ronoh, described the intervention as a timely and efficient response to the crisis.

Ronoh said the use of drones for targeted repellent application marks a shift towards modern agricultural practices in pest control.

“This innovative solution not only salvages the current season’s harvest but also restores confidence among farmers to continue planting,”

“It ensures the stability of Kenya’s food systems by protecting one of our key breadbasket regions,” Ronoh explained.

He said the government plans to extend the programme to other regions experiencing similar challenges.

“The next season, we will be better prepared to handle such situations promptly, ensuring farmers are not left vulnerable,” he said.

Narok CEC for agriculture, livestock, and fisheries Joyce Keshe, who accompanied the PS, said the focus will be on their hideouts at Nairasirasa and Melelo in Narok South Olopito, Tikako, Nturumeti and Katakala in Narok North and Nairagie Enkare in Narok East.

It is estimated that each roost contains over 4 million birds which Ms Keshe says is a threat to food security, one of the National government focus areas under the President William Ruto administration.

ADC Regional Manager Gertrude Mutiso said some farmers have resorted to using chemicals to kill the birds.