Since the beginning of September last year, the East African region was facing an acute food security following a second wave of desert locust invasion that ravaged countries in the horn of Africa.
The government now says it has contained a huge chunk of the new swarms.
“So far, the total number of swarms that settled in the Country between November 2020 and January 2021 are 75; out of which 66 have been treated reflecting a total area of 19,100 hectares……this represents eighty percent success rate,” Agriculture CS Peter Munya said.
The insects are being controlled through aerial spraying and ground pesticides.
To date, fifteen counties have reported desert locust invasion: Marsabit, Wajir, Garissa, Tana River, Lamu, Kilifi, Taita Taveta, Mandera, Machakos, Kitui, Isiolo, Samburu, Laikipia, Meru and Tharaka Nithi.
Having identified eight control bases in the affected counties, the government has so far deployed nine surveillance and spray aircrafts, with three on standby.
And through a partnership with UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation FAO, Munya says they have trained and deployed five hundred NYS recruits who are assisting in the control efforts
No comments:
Post a Comment