Extreme weather may trigger locust invasion, experts say

Agriculture stakeholders have warned of another impending desert locust invasion in the region following the escalating extreme weather conditions.

An international conference on desert locusts being held in Nairobi heard that even though the migratory pests have been contained in most areas in the region, the pests could still attack again especially if no approach is employed by the region partners.

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi (pictured) early this week warned that with the current trends of climate change, recession areas may expand to parts of North Eastern Kenya.

“However, expansion of the recession areas without a regional approach to preparedness will increase the frequency of invasions and worsen the severity of impacts of desert locusts on people’s lives and livelihoods,” said Linturi.

The warning comes as agriculture players meet at Safari Park Hotel for a one week conference to review response to the desert locust upsurge that ravaged the country in 2019-2022 and lessons learnt as well as preparedness for future emergencies.

Kenya was among the most severely affected countries during the desert locust upsurge leading to massive destruction of communities’ livelihood in the northern region.

And despite its limited locust management capacity and the fact that desert locust swarms invaded Kenya for the first time in 70 years, the country managed to successfully prevent widespread locust crop damage. He added, “desert locust is a regional problem and to sustain preparedness and continue building capacity to effectively and efficiently manage Desert locusts in future, I wish to appeal to Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to consider creating another Regional Commission that will take care of Countries in the Greater Horn of Africa.”