FAO donates resources to aid locust control efforts
Katima Mulilo, Namibia - The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) continues to assist Namibia to fight the outbreak of locusts by donating insecticide and other vital equipment to battle the scourge.
The FAO donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as safety gumboots, cotton overalls, chemical guard overalls, locust surveillance/monitoring and reporting tools comprising of two laptop computers and 40 tablet computers, safety goggles and gloves, respirator masks, all valued at about N$330 000. The equipment will be distributed to all the locust-infested regions in the country.
Officially handing over the donation, FAO Representative in Namibia, Ms. Farayi Zimudzi, said it is vitally important that staff on the ground are protected from the chemicals as it can have adverse effects on their health.
Zimudzi stated that FAO has been supporting the effort of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR) in controlling locusts since the invasion began last year.
“Part of our mandate as FAO is to support government to ensure that food security is not severly impacted during such crises," she said.
Zimudzi continued to note that FAO has also supported the training of both Agricultural Extension Officers and members of the country's National Defense Force (NDF) to be able to control the further invasion of the locusts.
FAO has so far availed about N$7 million to be used for strengthening the capacity of the Plant Health Unit within MAWLR's Directorate of Agricultural Production, Extension and Engineering Services (DAPEES).
Zambezi Governor, Lawrence Sampofu, who recieved the donated items on behalf of government said since the beginning of 2020 his region has been battling the locust invasion, noting that three constituencies in the region are still struggling with the locusts.
Sampofu praised FAO for availing support to MAWLR to contain the locust outbreak in his region and the rest of the country.
"We are grateful to stakeholders such as FAO for availing support to ensure the safety of our officials who are at the frontline fighting locusts," said Sampofu.
Also speaking during the handover ceremony, Margaret Matengu, Acting Head of the Plant Health Unit within DAPEES noted that locusts are a serious threat to food security and encouraged affected communities and stakeholders to unite in fighting the enemy.
"Community members have been very proactive in informing our officials about locust swarms in their respective areas and we thank them for making it easy for our officials to spot them," she said.
FAO continues to avail support to government and has so far supported over 130 government staff with training and equipped them with spraying and camping equipment, PPE, bio-pesticidest, transportation, and locust surveillance and monitoring tools.