The Horn of Africa has been hit by the worst invasion of desert locusts in 25 years, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said Friday.The invasion poses an unprecedented threat to food security in the entire sub region, where more than 19 million people in East Africa are already experiencing a high degree of food insecurity, the agency said.
In Kenya, it is the worst invasion in 70 years, and the government is spending $5 million to manage the swarms of locust and prevent spreading.Invasions of desert locusts are irregular in the region, the last instance occurred in 2007 at a much smaller scale.”This current invasion of desert locust is significantly larger in magnitude and scale than previously experienced in Kenya and across East Africa,” said Dr. Stephen Njoka, the Director General of Desert Locust Control Organization.
Irregular weather and climate conditions in 2019, including heavy rains between October and December, are suspected to have contributed to the spread of locusts in the region.
A cyclone that swept through northeastern Somalia and eastern Ethiopia in December, bringing heavy rains to the area, created ideal conditions for the insects to breed for the next six months, said Keith Cressman, FAO’s senior locust forecasting officer.
Large swarm areas of northeastern Somalia and eastern Ethiopia are not being detected or treated, leaving the area vulnerable to new generations of locusts.
DESPERATE moments calls for DESPERATE measures.
This is our country’s current state after the recent locust invasion in the country. The locust menace is spreading like a whirlwind causing unimaginable crop losses. FAO estimates that locusts can cause from 85-100% losses on cereals, legumes and pastures. Even without these figures it is notably evident that the damage is immense.
The rate at which destruction is happening allows no time for myths and beliefs giving us only a chance to tackle the situation with facts.
Organophosphorus insecticides are well known for their effective control of a wide number of insect pests.
Kenagro Suppliers Ltd therefore recommends the use of Ortran 970WG (Acephate 970g/kg) for locust control.
Ortran 970WG is a systemic organophosphate which when ingested, the insect bodies turn it into methamidophos another, stronger insecticide. Acephate and methamidophos affect the nervous system, causing over-activity in the nerves, muscles, or brain.
Apply Ortran 970WG as a foliar spray at 30gms/20litres of water for the effective control of locusts.
