The Danger of Locusts Invasion to Kenyan Farmers
East Africa is suffering one of its worst locust invasions in over three decades. As a report by the Food and Agriculture (FAO) arm of the United Nations reports, this has been the deadliest desert locust invasion in Kenya in 70 years. In even worse news, the agency has said that the locust invasion could spread beyond the East African region to the entire Horn of Africa, bringing with it a lot of catastrophes. In a statement shared with the public, FAO reported, “…There is a high risk that swarms of locusts will appear in Northeast Uganda, Southeast South Sudan, and Southwest Ethiopia. The high risk of further spread in the East Africa region necessitates an immediate and significant intensification of control activities.” Other farmers run through their farms, trying to chase away the locusts, as evidenced in Katitika, Kenya. In Somalia region, one of the worst-hit areas, locals have resorted to turning the locusts into a delicacy, trapping and preparing them as food.
Climatic conditions and weather patterns have been attributed as the main reason behind the spread of locusts in the region. It is reported that a cyclone that occurred in northeastern Somalia and Eastern Somalia caused a lot of rain in December. It created ideal conditions for the insects to breed. Moreover, the unpredictable rainfall in the northern part of Kenya has also created an enabling situation for the breeding of locusts, and more expected rain is likely to cause a surge in the same.
Locust invasion poses a considerable danger to a country’s food security. This is because they destroy food crops and all green matter. Already in Kenya, swarms of the insects have been reported moving in areas of Mandera, Wajir, and Marsabit counties throughout Isiolo, Meru, and even Kajiado counties. It is estimated that over 70,000 hectares of land have been affected by the locust plague, and the number is expected to grow. While some of the swarms are reportedly immature, other mature ones lay eggs which hatch after two weeks, thus leading to the rise of hopper bands. Prevalent immature swarms were also reported in Mwingi, in Kitui County. As many local media stations have stated, this dire situation has created a lot of fear among the locals, as more and more desperate farmers are looking for help in countering the case. Many more farmers are exasperated as these swarms continue devouring crops on the farms. In some instances, some farmers have been reported using more traditional methods to scare away the locusts, such as by banging pans and pots to scare away the insects. As statistics by many research studies indicate, each locust can eat its weight of food every day, which translates to at least 2 grams of food per day. Collectively, a massive swarm of locusts can consume over 100,000 tons of vegetation in a day, an equivalent of 1 million elephants. This can prove disastrous, as the destruction of food crops can reduce food security in the country, and mean hunger. This is especially pronounced in many East African countries, where food security is not always guaranteed, and poverty rates are still high.
The Locust Invasion can also contribute to rising poverty rates in the country. Many East African countries, more so Kenya, are primarily agricultural. This means that many inhabitants largely depend on agricultural produce, and lifestyles to sustain themselves and their families. They also depend on produce from their farms to feed themselves. Therefore, the locust invasion, which threatens to affect the food security in the country, will, as a result, affect farmers, and a large group of other stakeholders who depend on farming/ vegetation for survival. For instance, even cattle farmers will be affected by the locust invasion, which threatens food security, and this can affect milk and meat production. As a result, the prices of milk and meat will increase, and so will all the milk and meat products. Without alternative sources of income, this will mean rising rates of poverty. As many reports highlight, the desert locust, can easily affect more than 20% of the earth’s land and affect more than 1/10th of the world’s population.
Way Forward
Going forward, the governments of East African countries need to step up their efforts to counter the locust invasion. For instance, there is a constant need for supplies, pesticides, and the spraying equipment required to supplement the existing ones. Governments can sponsor the purchase of large nets, flamethrowers, and even huge vacuums, which can be used as part of the initiatives of countering locust invasion. Already, the government of Kenya has been at the forefront of fighting the locust invasion, as indicated by the ministry of agriculture, where over 20 sprays have been done so far.
Communities from East Africa, who have been most affected by the ongoing locust invasion, also need to be empowered and motivated to get back on their feet once the locusts have gone. Livelihood protection programs, from the government and the non-profit sector, are needed to ensure these communities retain their income sources (mostly agriculture). Communities should also be taught about locusts and the devastating impact that these insects can have on communities. An emergency action plan is needed to contain the disaster soon, as the rapid and constant movement of locust, thus contain the present and potential damage.