FAO Grants Aircraft Sprayer to Boost Ethiopia's Fight against Desert Locusts

Addis Ababa, March 21/2020( ENA) The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) handed over today an additional sprayer and information collector aircraft to enhance Ethiopia’s fight against the spread of locust.

Fatouma D. Seid, FAO Country Representative to Ethiopia said that the aircraft will help intensify aerial and ground locust control efforts.

The donation raised the total aircrafts delivered to Ethiopia to two, she said adding that FAO will also provide three additional aircrafts on the top of vehicles, and motor cycles to improve the desert locust control efforts.

Minister of Agriculture, Ummer Hussien commended FAO for its response to the desert locust risk that is damaging crops, animals fodder and plants in Ethiopia and beyond.

Noting that locusts have been causing massive agricultural and environmental damage in Ethiopia, FAO has been making immense support to protect the spread of locust and losses caused by the swarm.

The additional aircraft is very timely and will help to boost the efforts of monitoring the movements of desert locusts and their pattern.

The ministry will cooperatively work with stakeholders through properly administer and use the assistance provided by FAO, he pointed out.

It is to be recalled that FAO has provided one spraying aircraft to Ethiopia to fight against locust in the country on March 6, 20120.

Locust swarm, which originally migrated from the Arabian Peninsula, are currently affecting large parts of the Horn Africa region.