Desert Locusts: Uganda prepares for the second wave of invasion
FAO provides more support to the Ministry of Agriculture
5 March 2021, Soroti – As the East African region battles the second cycle of Desert Locust invasion, numerous immature swarms active in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia and Uganda is heightening her preparedness for a possible invasion in the coming days.
In Kenya, immature swarms have been reported in 17 counties, some of which share a border with Uganda, such as Turkana. Uganda is now on a high alert and increasing its readiness to respond to and control the destructive migratory pest.
To boost Uganda’s preparedness, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is supporting the Desert Locust Response with assorted items for surveillance, control, reduce the impact on livelihoods of affected communities and promote early recovery.
The items include three vehicles, standard Personal Protective Equipment such as helmets, overalls and safety goggles, surveillance kits comprising 236 mobile phones and solar-powered charging systems and two mobile storage facilities for safe-keeping of pesticides. This assortment of items was the second of its kind, made by FAO, to boost efforts of the Government of Uganda to prevent and control Desert Locusts. In September 2020, FAO donated four pickup trucks, fitted with vehicle-mounted sprayers, 50 ULV spray pumps and 47 000 litres of pesticides.
Speaking during the handover ceremony on 5 March at the Soroti Flying School, Honourable Vincent Ssempijja- the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, thanked FAO for the enormous support, which he said, “will indeed take us very far in enhancing the country’s preparedness towards Desert Locust control and ensuring food security for the people of Uganda.”
“The mobile storage facilities in Soroti and Moroto will help in storage and easing access of Desert Locust Control supplies such as pesticides and other inputs required during control operations,” said Hon Ssempijja.
The FAO Country Representative in Uganda, Antonio Querido, recognised Uganda’s concerted efforts to fight Desert Locusts. “As development partners, I thank the Government of Uganda for its strategic leadership, timely response, mobilization of staff and resources to address the Desert Locust situation from the onset,” adding that the timely response was able to avert widespread destruction of crops and pastures.”
“FAO considers the fight against the rapid spread of Desert Locusts in East Africa one of its top priorities. we can and must protect vulnerable people from the impact of the ongoing multiple crises including conflicts, climate extremes, Desert Locusts and COVID-19, which threaten to cause a further dramatic deterioration in their food security,” said Mr Querido.
Desert Locusts were last reported in the country on 12 September, all entering through the Kenya – Uganda border. While the situation has remained calm for the last five months, Uganda remains threatened by the on-going breeding in the Horn of Africa and Yemen.
To support households affected by Desert Locusts, FAO conducted a Detailed Livelihoods Impact Assessment in affected areas to assess the impact of Desert Locusts on livelihoods across 23 districts in Acholi, Elgon, Karamoja, Lango and Teso sub-regions. The assessment captured information on food security and socio-economic indicators, to provide recommendations to further inform control measures and livelihood support that is now being provided by FAO and other stakeholders.
Findings from the exercise indicate that during February and March 2020, little to no cropland was affected since Desert Locusts arrived ahead of the planting season and found insufficient vegetation. However, the swarms that arrived in April damaged crops, especially in Karamoja and Teso sub-regions. The most affected households were reported in Lango, Karamoja and Acholi sub-regions. Households in these regions also reported damage of pasture lands by Desert Locust swarms, with the most impact reported in Abim, Nabilatuk and Pader and Napak Districts.
The affected households will receive livelihood support in form of 10,500 farming re-engagement packages across Teso and Karamoja sub-regions. These packages include assorted vegetables and cereal high-quality seeds that are currently being distributed to the identified household. Others include livestock package to at least 5000 households with livestock, ranging from haybales, mineral blocks and pasture seeds, as well as cash assistance to 8,000 vulnerable households amounting to 752,863.38 UGX, worth six months of assistance.
FAO’s Desert Locust response in Uganda is supported by the Russian Federation, the German Humanitarian Assistance, the European Union, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Mastercard Foundation, the Government of the Netherlands, the Government of Canada, the Swiss Confederation, the Republic of China, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).