·

Immature locust swarms decline but still persisting in Kenya and Ethiopia

immature-locust-swarms-decline-but-still-persisting-in-kenya-and-ethiopia

Immature swarms continue to decline in Kenya and Ethiopia due to the ongoing control operations, according to an update by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Tuesday, March 16, 2021. However, swarms are persisting in the absence of rainfall. International experts on migratory pests urged the affected countries to deploy drones to boost the fight against the pests.

In Kenya, small immature swarms were seen between Mt. Kenya and the Rift Valley in Nyandarua, Nakuru, and Baringo counties in the past few days. In Ethiopia, immature swarms persist in the Ahmar Mountains east of the Rift Valley but appear to be declining in southern SNNP.

There is cautious optimism of signs that the current upsurge is winding down in the Horn of Africa, especially if poor rains limit breeding this spring, followed by equally poor rains during the summer in northeast Ethiopia," said FAO.

"However, it will be essential to sustain current survey and control operations in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia, and maintain vigilance in case there is any unusual rainfall."

As of present, swarms continue to decline due to ongoing control operations. However, showers may occur by the end of March in some areas, which could trigger breeding.

Stephen Njoka, director of the Desert Locust Control Organization for Eastern Africa, advised the use of drone technology to combat the insects.

"The deployment of drones is a key breakthrough in surveillance of the locusts, even though they are yet to be useful in spraying due to their limited load capacity," he stated in a virtual briefing in Nairobi.

Daniel Willy, program officer with African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), called for a regional coordinated approach for the emergency registration of pesticides.

Featured image credit: Flickr

If you value what we do here, create your ad-free account and support our journalism.

Share:


Your support makes a difference

Dear valued reader,

We hope that our website has been a valuable resource for you.

The reality is that it takes a lot of time, effort, and resources to maintain and grow this website. We rely on the support of readers like you to keep providing high-quality content.

If you have found our website to be helpful, please consider making a contribution to help us continue to bring you the information you need. Your support means the world to us and helps us to keep doing what we love.

Support us by choosing your support level – Silver, Gold or Platinum. Other support options include Patreon pledges and sending us a one-off payment using PayPal.

Thank you for your consideration. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
Teo Blašković

$5 /month

  • Ad-free account
  • Clean user interface and fast browsing
  • Direct communication with us via chat and email
  • Suggest new features, content and applications
  • Early access to new apps and features

$50 /year

$10 /month

  • Ad-free account
  • Clean user interface and fast browsing
  • Direct communication with us via chat and email
  • Suggest new features, content and applications
  • Early access to new apps and features

$100 /year

$25 /month

  • Ad-free account
  • Clean user interface and fast browsing
  • Direct communication with us via chat and email
  • Suggest new features, content and applications
  • Early access to new apps and features

$200 /year

You can also support us on Patreon

support us on patreon

or by sending us a one-off payment using PayPal:


Commenting rules and guidelines

We value the thoughts and opinions of our readers and welcome healthy discussions on our website. In order to maintain a respectful and positive community, we ask that all commenters follow these rules:

  • Treat others with kindness and respect.
  • Stay on topic and contribute to the conversation in a meaningful way.
  • Do not use abusive or hateful language.
  • Do not spam or promote unrelated products or services.
  • Do not post any personal information or content that is illegal, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate.

We reserve the right to remove any comments that violate these rules. By commenting on our website, you agree to abide by these guidelines. Thank you for helping to create a positive and welcoming environment for all.

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *