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Experts at the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (Igad), say the nine member states should prepare for yet another infestation anytime. This is between March and May next year – a period of the year just before the first harvest season.
Locust attacks remain one of the most devastating threats to food security in the Igad states. This include Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda, with the region last hit three years ago.
At the time, just a one square kilometre locust swarm showed itself able to consume the equivalent of food for 35,000 people in one day
Mr Kenneth Mwangi, the Transboundary Pest Management Project manager at Igad, yesterday said prevailing weather conditions conducive for locust breeding are being witnessed in the region.
“…these locusts normally migrate from Yemen at a particular time of the year… There are events that are happening like the El-nino and so much increased rainfall in Yemen and Saudi Arabia. That now elevates the risk. We are looking at swarms that will be coming in from those areas in these months because the winds are moving downwards,” he said.
In 2020, locusts invaded the East and Horn of Africa region, affecting 3.4 million people. Ethiopia and Somalia were the worst hit in what was acknowledged as the most dramatic infestation in 25 years.
In Uganda, the desert locusts’ invasion, the first of its kind in several years, was first noticed in Amudat District, bordering Kenya in Karamoja Sub-region.
Swarms of locusts attacked and ravaged all greenery, eating away thousands of acres of food crops and pasture. The pests eventually spread across Karamoja before traveling into Acholi, Lango, Sebei and Teso sub-regions.
In multiple waves, the locusts destroyed vegetation, including crops. This left at least 750,000 households vulnerable in 10 districts before the government sent out food aid to the affected communities. However, this time Mr Mwangi says the region is better prepared.
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