AgriSA has launched a digital monitoring platform that allows farmers, district locust officers, and response teams to record observations and track locust swarm movements in real time. The initiative aims to improve the speed and coordination of locust outbreak control efforts across South Africa.
Since August 2025, AgriSA has been collaborating with the Directorate for Climate Change and Disaster Management's Migratory Pest Division (Southern Region) and the Department of Agriculture to strengthen operational readiness.
The AgriSA Atlas Platform enables users to report locust sightings with GPS coordinates and photos, track swarm distribution and movement, help authorities prioritise high-risk areas, and support the allocation of equipment, resources, and personnel.
AgriSA project spokesperson Janine Byleveld told Farmer's Weekly that the short turnaround time needed to control outbreaks led to the development of the system. "[Locust swarms] are constantly on the move and can be in a different place every hour, depending on the phase of the life cycle they are in. In previous years, it could take anywhere from 12 hours to three days [for a swarm] to be reported and controlled. [With the new platform] we anticipate a quicker turnaround time for control that will stop the locusts from getting to a stage where they can lay eggs," she said.
Farmers and members of the public can report swarms via WhatsApp at +27 79 467 0702, where users are guided through the process of recording the location and details of each swarm. "Reports are logged on WhatsApp, which is linked to the AgriSA Atlas Platform. The district locust officer is then notified and will go to the location and control the outbreak," Byleveld explained.
She added that AgriSA has held provincial coordination meetings to ensure all role players are involved in the process. "The intention is to be collaborative and supportive of existing efforts, and the organisation welcomes any further support and participation that can strengthen the management of locust outbreaks," she said.
"We are in constant communication with the [Agriculture] Department to ensure transparent communication. We form part of the bigger picture of ensuring the success of control," she added.
According to Byleveld, AgriSA plans to expand the platform to include monitoring of additional crop pests and potentially livestock diseases. "This is only part of the pilot. This platform also allows users to report rural safety issues. We will continue to measure and monitor its success," she concluded.
Source: Farmer's Weekly
