Farmer Peter Mwai at his rice field in Kimbimbi area in the Mwea Irrigation Scheme. [Joseph Muchiri, Standard]
Rice farmers in Kirinyaga are piloting various methods to tackle the infestation of apple snails that have affected production for the last 14 months.
The apple snail pest which is considered one of the most invasive pests to hit the rice paddies of Mwea and Tembere irrigation schemes is estimated to have the potential of knocking off 20-30 percent production per acre.
So far 80 percent of the rice farms have been affected according to local farmers in the Tembere section of Kenya’s rice basket.
Daniel Chege a rice farmer in the area said the snails have been destroying their harvests for close to two years and the farmers are at their wits end on how to address the situation.
“Some of us have abandoned the paddies, indefinitely while most have dried out the rice paddies in the hope the snails will stop ="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/farmkenya/article/2001415746/mechanisation-helps-farmers-reduce-losses">multiplying<,” he noted.
Unfortunately, both methods have not worked as the snails only hibernate until water is flooded into the paddy.
“I have attempted both methods and now the snails continue to lay eggs and multiply on the farms,” he said.
Ken Muthui, a rice farmer said he had resorted to burning the rice stalks and has abandoned his paddies for four months now.
“I have tried pesticides and they do not work, I am hoping that burning the rice stalks will help keep off the snails,” he noted.
He said farmers have experienced losses in the last few months as they had to plant the crop several times, to get any harvest.
“I have had to replant the same paddy four times because the snails are destroying the crop each time leaving patches of ="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/farmkenya/smart-harvest/article/2001406274/new-rice-irrigation-project-changes-fortunes-of-farmers">rice
Each time he needs to plant, he hires at least 14 people who are paid Sh400 per day to plant an acre of rice seedlings.
Each acre requires a minimum of 20 kilogrammes while one acre of rice seedlings costs Sh100.
This means Muthui and his fellow farmers are spending a minimum of Sh30,000 to plant rice when they previously spent Sh7,000 per acre.
“Most farmers cannot afford the extra costs of planting three or four times to cover the losses made by the apple snails so they give up, if we all give up what will happen to rice production in the country?” Chege asked.
Researchers confirmed the presence of the apple snails in March this year and published a report noting this was the first time the pest was discovered in Kenya.
KALRO Crop Health National Coordinator Dr Zachary Kinyua, said the pests are relatively new in the mentioned areas.
“It is not clear whether they have been in existence in Kenya earlier than the time when significant damage was reported,” he said.
He noted in the identification of Apple snails the effort has been put to confirm the identity of the="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/farmkenya/smart-harvest/article/2001408340/rice-farmers-stare-at-empty-fields-as-drought-bites"> apple snails< through molecular methods – scientific name has been confirmed as Pomacea canaliculata (this is the first scientific report in Kenya).
Dr Kinyua said these snails thrive and multiply fast in moist/wet conditions such as those that occur in waterways or flooded areas such is the case of the irrigated rice production fields.
“When it comes to management effective solutions to new pests are not always at hand. Therefore, the search for robust control measures commonly takes substantial time and effort,” Dr Kinyua said.
He noted some work is in progress to identify and evaluate some pesticides for the control of apple snails but it is premature to make any conclusions.
In the interim period, management effort take the direction of using what can innovatively ease the pest pressure. Here are some insights on this.
To contain the Apple snails
Dr Kinyua advised field hygiene and sanitation in this case, clearing trash or vegetation along irrigation furrows and canals should be done regularly to allow free flow of water.
This prevents stagnation/congestion of waterways that normally encourages ="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/farmkenya/article/2001405243/over-2000-soya-farmers-in-busia-to-get-sh25-million-grant">rapid multiplication of the snails< as they easily lay eggs in stationary water bodies.
He observed that temporary moist pockets can also be created by placing banana stems in inverted positions near waterways. Adult snails get attracted to such moist pockets from which they can be collected and destroyed to reduce their populations.
Trapping adult snails using sieves in waterways can reduce the spread of high populations to some extent although eggs can still be carried along.
Scientists at Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service noted the apple snails are widely considered to be one of the most invasive pests in waterways and irrigation systems.
