In Turkana South, Kenya, a recent locust surge has unsettled greenhouse operations and pastoral facilities, impacting the agrarian supply chain. The locusts, pervasive in areas such as Lochwa-ang'ikamatak, Kanaodon, and Lokapel, target acacia, fruit trees, and Prosopis juliflora.
John Lungi, a local elder, remarked, "This is a serious threat. If these locusts are not controlled, they will wipe out our crops and pastures. We are worried about food shortages and how this will affect our families and livestock."
Reacting to this situation, the Turkana County Department of Agriculture commenced a thorough investigation to gauge the locust invasion's scope. The assessment employs transect drives for population counts and evaluates the ecological impact. Aaron Nanok and Gabriel Plata oversee these operations, confirming detectable locust populations, with densities between 30 and 70 hoppers per tree.
The county's agricultural decision-makers are considering various intervention methodologies, crucial for maintaining the stability of horticultural and pastoral productivity in this region, which relies heavily on such resources. The ongoing assessment will provide necessary data to formulate action plans aimed at reducing locust impact.
Source: The Standard
