Winning The Battle Against Desert Locusts
Desert locust upsurge could have devastating consequences in vulnerable regions affected by recurrent drought, conflict, high food prices and now fighting COVID-19 pandemic. Outlook Web Bureau May 07, 2021
For the unsuspecting farmer, the Desert Locust is a formidable enemy. These pests have a voracious appetite with the capacity to devour vast swathes of crops and pastureland on the way, multiply rapidly and can travel up to 150 km/day.
According to some reports, it was the first time since the locust plague of 1926-31 that swarms of locusts took the National Capital Region by surprise in June 2020.
High-tech is helping African and Asian countries win battle against desert locusts
For the unsuspecting farmer, the Desert Locust is a formidable enemy. These wretched pests have a voracious appetite, multiply rapidly and travel up to 150 kilometers a day with the capacity to devour vast swathes of crops and pastureland on the way. In the past year, waves of the insidious insect swept across East Africa, Yemen and southwest Asia in massive swarms that contained up to 80 million in a single square kilometre.
The threat to agriculture and food security has been immense and the challenge to bring them under control, urgent. In response, FAO, with partners and donors, developed an array of high-tech tools that revolutionized locust detection, surveillance and treatment, helping affected countries to effectively control them.
A high-tech response is helping countries win battle against Desert Locusts
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FAO and its partners are creating cutting-edge technology to destroy the pests
For the unsuspecting farmer, the Desert Locust is a formidable enemy. These wretched pests have a voracious appetite, multiply rapidly and travel up to 150 kilometers a day with the capacity to devour vast swathes of crops and pastureland on the way.
In the past year, waves of the insidious insect swept across East Africa, Yemen and southwest Asia in massive swarms that contained up to 80 million in a single square kilometre.
The threat to agriculture and food security has been immense and the challenge to bring them under control, urgent.