Rice farmers in Kisumu are up in arms following a surge in quelea birds attacking fields in West Kano Irrigation Scheme.
Gaudensia Anyango, a 65-year-old farmer, said farmers are counting losses as the birds destroy crops.
“I have to wake up early every morning to chase the birds to protect my ivelihood. The birds are causing farmers anguish as we walk several kilometres every day chasing birds away,” she said.
“This is my livelihood that helps me take care of my family. If I don’t chase away the birds, I will have no harvest.”
Anyango said she usually harvests between 35 and 40 bags from her two-acre piece of land.
However, with the birds spoiling the harvest, she gets about 15 bags, which does not even cater for the production cost.
Anyango urged the government to intervene to help contain the bird menace.
"The government should help us because this is my source of income. The situation is controllable," Anyango said.
In 2021, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) estimated that $50 million (Ksh6.4 billion) worth of crops were lost to the birds annually, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa.
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