FAO warns of new locust invasion threat in Kenya, eastern Africa

By , K24 Digital
On Tue, 12 Jan, 2021 12:39 | < 1 min read
Desert locusts have invaded Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia, threatening livelihoods and food security. PHOTO | COURTESY

New swarms of locusts in southern Ethiopia and northern Kenya are spreading further in the eastern Africa region, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has warned.

In its latest update posted on Monday, FAO said the immature swarms have been migrating from the previous locust breeding grounds in eastern Ethiopia and central Somalia and spreading into Ethiopia’s SNNP region and into Kenya’s northern and coastal counties.

“So far, swarms are present in four (Kenyan) counties (Wajir, Garissa, Marsabit and, most recently, Isiolo). Breeding continues, and hopper bands are present in the southeast near Taita Taveta and along the coast,” FAO says

A few swarms could spread further in Kenya and reach Tanzania, South Sudan and Uganda this month, the FAO warns.