LOCUST INVASION IN EAST AFRICA

Over the last few months, massive swarms of locust have been making their way around East Africa countries, laying waste to thousands of hectares of crops and threatening millions of people with hunger in an area that is already on the brink of food insecurity. The outbreak has been the worst in years and decades affecting countries such as Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Eritrea, Tanzania, and Uganda. A particular swarm of locusts in Kenya was estimated to be 37 miles long and 25 miles wide. Climate experts are attributing this exponential surge in numbers to long dry spells followed by unusually heavy rains which provides all the right moisture conditions for locust eggs buried in the soil for decades to hatch en-masse. It is estimated that even a small swarm of locust can consume enough food to feed over 30,00 people. Such is the extent of their devastating power. 

Prevention of Locust Infestation

One of the most effective ways to avoid the devastating effects of pest invasions is to prevent it from happening in the first place. The use of early warning systems is therefore of utmost importance and is realistically the only way of preventing an infestation. It involves monitoring and collecting data on weather, ecological conditions and growth of locust swarms which help in making forecasts of timing and breeding locations. A successful prevention therefore relies on

• regular monitoring
• early warning and
• timely response.

Methods of Controlling Locust Infestation

There are various methods of controlling locust, some of which are highly effective while some are not effective and a waste of time. These methods can be broadly classified into the following

• Biological methods
• Chemical methods
• Traditional methods

Biological methods: this involves the use of organisms that are natural predators of locust. Biological methods are highly effective and have the added advantage of not causing environmental pollutions. Some biological methods include

• Use of a naturally occurring hormone known as Phenyl acetonitrile or PAN for short. When this is applied to juvenile locusts known as hoppers, it makes it impossible for them to form swarms
• Insect growth regulators which help to inhibit the growth of hoppers for several weeks can also be used to control the growth of insects
• Green muscle is a fungus that was developed by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. It attaches itself to the exoskeleton of locusts and penetrates before destroying their internal tissues. It has an added advantage of only affecting locust

Chemical Methods: this is the use of insecticides or chemicals to kill locusts. It is one of the more effective methods of controlling locust and pests in general. It is however often avoided where possible as it has devastating effects on both harmful and beneficial pests. It also leads to severe environmental pollution. There are four classes of chemicals used and they include

• Organochlorides
• Organophosphates
• Carbamates
• Synthetic pyrethroids

Traditional methods: thing methods of controlling locust infestation are some of the most ineffective and inefficient methods. Their effectiveness is mostly limited to swarms of a minute or very small quantities. Some of these methods may include bush burning, handpicking, burying of eggs, etc.

Conclusion

Controlling swarms of the locust is a monumentally difficult task that gets progressively more difficult as the size of the swarm increases. Prevention as they say is better than cure and is the best medicine. It however requires constant monitoring.

If Western African were to be hit with the invasion of Locust, the question is are we prepared or ready to tackle it? The few ways of controlling the pest have been highlighted above and Nigerian Meteorological Agency can also help by making earlier and accurate information readily available to farmers to avoid similar situations happening in East Africa.