Desert Locust, Other Transboundary Pests Remain Major Threats to Food Security in IGAD Region

Addis Ababa  December 9/2023(ENA)The desert locust and other transboundary pests have remained a major threat to food security in the East African region, experts from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) told ENA.

Over 850 million USD was spent to respond to desert locust crises between 2019 and 2021 alone, according to the evidence obtained from IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC).

ICPAC Sustainable Transboundary Pest Management Program Manager Kenneth Mwangi said that he is worried by the fresh invasion of desert locust in the wider East African region.

“So far our worry is that the region is currently very green and this is one of the drivers of locust swarm. With a lot of vegetation due to high rainfall happening, there is a fertile ground for locust breeding and infestation,” he noted.

In this respect, the IGAD region is passing through more and more extreme weather events that have created favorable conditions to desert locust and other transboundary pests, Mwangi elaborated.

As desert locust is among the top 10 food security threats in the IGAD region, the program manager warned that the looming infestation will exacerbate the food crisis in the region.

“We can see already condition for getting future pest invasion like locust and others,” he revealed.

Subsequently, the program manager stressed the need for reinforcing a regional approach to curb locust invasion and other pests the IGAD region faces.

According to Mwangi, IGAD Climate Prediction and Application Centre is working hard towards containing swarms of locust in their breeding areas. 

To this end, the centre is particularly supporting IGAD region countries through its transboundary projects so that the swarm will not be out of control in the wider region, he added.

 

IGAD Climate Prediction Centre Climate scientist, Herbert Omondi Misiani said climate change is creating favorable condition for locust to thrive.

The IGAD region has been witnessing several manifestations of climate change such as increasing flooding following a heavy rainfall and drought induced events, he pointed out. 

Moreover, the changing condition for the sea surface temperature intensity is anticipated to negatively impact in terms of flooding and drought. 

“The projection of the future demonstrates that these drivers of drought will result in more infestation of pests and diseases.” 

The climate scientist urged IGAD and its member states to mobilize resources for adoption and resilient livelihood.

 

In connection with this, Misiani mentioned Ethiopia’s response for the worrying climate change through its Green Legacy Initiative (GLI). The country has planted tens of millions of tree seedlings over the last four years.

“We have seen that Ethiopia is trying to plant trees and Kenya is also doing the same. So having more trees in the region would reduce the green house efforts.”

Due to the severity scenario and its difficulties the crisis of transboundary locust infestations, the media outlets in the IGAD region should give elaborate information to the vulnerable communities, governments, and other stakeholders, IGAD Communication trainer Isaac Sagala said.

 

Currently, IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre is providing training for journalists  from the  region on crisis of transboundary locust and other pests invasion.