The government has dispatched crop experts to Kisumu to start a massive campaign to fight quelea birds in rice fields through spraying.
The Department of Crop Protection and Safety from Nairobi will be in charge of the exercise
Kisumu County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture Kenneth Onyango says there are about 5.8 Million quelea birds in the county.
The county government of Kisumu has already located 9 areas where the birds stay at night where the spraying will be directed.
Nyando has the highest population of the birds at 2,000,000 followed by Nyakach with 800,000 and Muhoroni with 500,000.
Rice farms in West Kano and Ahero Irrigation schemes in recent days have been invaded by the destructive quelea birds in rice fields.
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Some 300 acres of rice fields have been destroyed by the birds with 2000 more acres under threat.
He further noted that growing of sorghum in the area which easily attracts birds has resulted in the high number of birds being witnessed in the area.
“They will inspect the affected areas today and start spraying tomorrow. Our operation will cover the National Irrigation Authority area in Muhoroni, Awach Kano, Ogange, Amboo, Okana, Ogongo, Kudho, Haro and Alara,” Onyango said.
