The Narok County Government, together with the National Government, has launched an operation to flush out quelea birds that have invaded wheat fields in parts of Narok County.
Speaking in her office, Narok County Executive Committee Member in Charge of Agriculture Joyce Keshe said that farmers have raised an alarm about the outbreak of quelea birds invading their fields.
Keshe said that the county government has conducted a survey to identify the roots of the birds, with the most affected areas identified as Nkareta, Ololugunga, Naisuya, Ntulele, Katakala, Kisiriri, and Olopito.
The CECM therefore said the government has rolled out the operation, which targets to flush out 4 million quelea birds, which are destroying the field farms.
She noted that the officials from the state department of agriculture have mapped out the roots where the birds hide overnight, adding that the aerial operation will only target the mapped areas.
“We have identified the roots of birds, and we will only spread the chemicals to specific areas identified,” Keshe added.
She said the Ministry of Agriculture, through the State Department of Food Security and the Directorate of Pest Control, has attributed intervention to flush out the quelea birds that pose a threat to food security.
Keshe added that the Ministry of Agriculture has also given out an aeroplane that will be used in the operation exercise.
The CECM has said that chemicals procured to flush out the birds might endanger the lives of livestock; therefore, she urged the farmers who reside in identified areas to move their livestock to the neighbourhood for the time being.
Ms. Keshe also said the county government procured chemicals, and therefore there will be no fee charged to the farmers.
She said that Narok County is leading in wheat production, and therefore the operation is being conducted to help farmers avoid counting losses.
The CECM said the officials from the department were still engaging the community on the ground to identify more roots and sensitise them to the effects of the chemicals.
By John Kaleke
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