Australia’s donation to avert locusts invasion
George Kebaso @Morarak
The Australian government has donated 40,000 litres of chemicals to boost Kenya’s efforts to prevent a new generation of the red desert locust that are about to start flying, Agriculture Cabinet secretary Peter Munya has said.
The CS said with the locust’ invasion threat still rife and more new swarms expected to fly in from Somalia, the government is doing what is possible to stop further attack.
“There is steady progress in dealing with the invasion, but the challenge has been availability of chemicals.
However, with this donation from Australia, we are organising how to bring the consignment into the country,” he told People Daily yesterday.
However, Munya said locally, the government is also procuring chemicals from in-country manufacturers to boost the dwindling stocks, especially in the North Eastern part of the country, where a multi-agency team is conducting ground spraying.
At the same time, the CS said the government is in the process of procuring three consultants to assist in assessing the damage so far caused by the destructive insects, to inform the next phase of compensation.
Munya said the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) that was tasked to identify the consultants is almost concluding the exercise with the tenders having been closed on Tuesday.
