Posted on January, 14, 2021 at 08:57 am
New swarms of lousts spreading fro Northern Kenya have reached Taita Taveta County and could reach Tanzania this month. The United NAtions Food and Agricultural Organization has warned.
In its latest update, FAO says swarms from Kenya could also enter South Sudan and Uganda, after the swarms were spotted in some parts of Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan and Eritrea.
“All countries should maintain maximum efforts in conducting the necessary survey and control operations to reduce migration and breeding,” the UN agency advised.
In Somalia, mature swarms are present in the northwest and breeding is in progress on the coast where hopper bands have formed. Breeding also continues in the northeast where numerous hopper bands are concentrated between Iskushuban and Bosaso, it stated.
Breeding may also be underway in other areas on the northern plateau that received heavy rains from cyclone Gati, the update noted, elaborating that immature swarms continue to move southwards in central and southern regions towards Kenya.
The Rome-based organization says the immature swarms were migrating from previous locust breeding grounds in eastern Ethiopia and central Somalia and spreading into Ethiopia’s SNNP region and into Kenya’s northern and coastal counties.
“So far, swarms are present in four (Kenyan) counties (Wajir, Garissa, Marsabit and, most recently, Isiolo). Breeding continues, and hopper bands are present in the southeast near Taita Taveta and along the coast,” FAO said.
Locust invasion poses a big threat to food security in the region. Last year, the region saw billions of the insects destroying crops across the region.
The UN agency has urged countries affected to take the necessary efforts to survey, control, reduce migration and breeding of the insects.
Source: IPP Media