An even worse swarm of desert locusts will head for Uganda in the face of hatching eggs in Kenya. The Russian Federation has funded Uganda’s activities targeting desert locusts with USD 3 million (Shillings 11.2 billion). The last swarm invaded on 26 May in Kaabong district in Karamoja sub-region of Uganda. These locusts have invaded Uganda three times since March. The donation comes in the wake of concerns of recent downpours that have created an optimal environment in various countries of the East African region and one Horn of Africa for the procreation of locusts.
In June, young locusts will be fierce adults, as per the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), just as the farmers will start their harvest, compounded by yet another depressing food safety scenario. Estimates predict that desert locusts in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia are going to continue to reproduce and pose a significant risk to Uganda and other East African nations in the upcoming months. Scientists predict that new swarms will emigrate from South Sudan to Sudan this month. A week ago, the same locusts evaded the Asian continent and affected countries like Pakistan.
Desert Locusts Threaten the Little COVID-19 has Left for Us
Russia’s diplomat, Alexander Polyakov, asserts the donation will assist to buy insecticides, fuel, sprayers, and training staff for the disposal of pests, which the Russian government has given to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to combat the desert locust invasion in East Africa. He mentioned the Russian Government donated 53 cars last year to the UN World Food Program. Of these, 5 vehicles are used in the most impacted and insecure regions of Uganda to support desert locust management operations.
The Minister for Agriculture, Vincent Ssempijja, said the government had effectively regulated the locusts and prevented food scarcity, costing about US$ 8 million (Shs 30 billion). Ssempijja requested further financial support to provide provisional tents and vehicles for field and processing officers and other materials used in pest management. Stephen Tibeijuka Byantwale, the crop protection commissioner, says there are 2,045 ground officers ready for the next tidal wave of desert locusts, primarily the Uganda people’s defense force (UPDF) and the Uganda wildlife authority (UWA).
He says the government has granted the Agriculture Ministry Shs 24 billion to battle the locusts. They have invested the funds in the clearing of the Desert Locust Control Organization for East Africa arrears and in fulfilling the safety requirements in the areas significantly impacted. The crisis in Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya, which have huge, fast-moving desert locusts destroying food crops, has been especially troubling. Dr. Antonio Querido of the FAO Country Representative says locusts have negatively impacted around 22,000 homes in the region ever since.
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