Locusts to resurface next year, say regional experts

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Summary:

• Regional authorities are warning of a potential desert locust invasion in East Africa, including Uganda, within four months, threatening livelihoods and food security, with experts urging preparedness based on favorable weather conditions.

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Regional authorities have issued warnings that a significant influx of desert locusts may encroach upon the East African region, including Uganda, posing a threat to the livelihoods of entire communities within the next four months. The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (Igad) experts indicate that the nine member states should brace themselves for a potential infestation between March and May of the upcoming year, just before the initial season’s harvest.

Locust attacks continue to be a severe menace to food security in the Igad states, comprising Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda. The region experienced a similar crisis three years ago, where a mere one square kilometer swarm demonstrated the capacity to consume the equivalent of food for 35,000 people in a single day.

Kenneth Mwangi, the Transboundary Pest Management Project manager at Igad, emphasized that the prevailing weather conditions in the region are conducive to locust breeding. He attributed the elevated risk to events such as El Niño and increased rainfall in Yemen and Saudi Arabia, creating conditions favorable for locust migration. Mwangi urged regional governments to remain vigilant in the face of this impending threat.

In 2020, the East and Horn of Africa region witnessed a devastating locust invasion, affecting 3.4 million people, with Ethiopia and Somalia being the hardest hit. Uganda, experiencing its first desert locust invasion in several years, saw swarms attacking Amudat District in the Karamoja Sub-region, devastating crops and pastures across multiple regions.

However, Mwangi expressed confidence that the region is better prepared this time, citing collaborative efforts through an inter-regional transboundary pest management platform. The director of crop protection in Uganda’s Ministry of Agriculture, Stephen Byantwale, confirmed the establishment of a national task force and training of personnel for forecasting and reporting. Acknowledging the urgency of the situation, Upe County MP Lolem Akasile called for swift government action and early budget allocations to preemptively address the anticipated destruction caused by the impending locust invasion.