Rice fields in Mwea are now battlegrounds as local farmers struggle to protect their crops from the devastating impact of the snails.
The snail, notorious for its ability to slash yields, feeds voraciously on young rice seedlings, leaving farmers in distress and economies vulnerable to substantial losses.
During the practical Training Unlocks Rice Farmers’ Agribusiness Potential on raising quality seedlings, transplanting and management of seedbeds organized by Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), control of snails emerged as a major challenge among the rice farmers.
Dr. Ruth Musila, Centre Manager, Mwea KALRO Research Centre, said farmers are concerned about golden apple snails and are offering tips on how to control them.
As research continues to come up with effective methods of control, they have advised to intermittently drain water after transplanting.
“We have advised them to drain water after transplanting because the pest, snail, cannot survive without water. We still encourage them to use biological methods as opposed to chemicals that may have side effects.”
At the farm demonstration at Kiriko Demonstration Farm in Mwea, farmers acquired a range of farm management and other skills that enabled them to select appropriate methods to manage the crop, enabling them to get maximum output and profits.
Lydia Mundia, a rice farmer, said the detrimental effects of snail invasion extend beyond crop-related concerns and encompass impacts on human health as vectors for parasites such as the rat lungworm parasite, which can cause meningitis.
“We urge the government to fast-track research on ways to control the snails as they don’t affect the rice only but also spread human diseases.”
The snail’s invasiveness is driven by its ability to tolerate a wide range of habitats and adapt to harsh conditions; its high reproductive rate and genetic diversity lead to rapid population growth.
By Mutai Kipngetich
