Locust Emergency
For thousands of years, plagues of desert locust have been a threat to agricultural production in Africa and western Asia.
Swarms of the migratory insect can devastate crops as they fly in great numbers in search of food. Desert locusts are normally solitary, scattered insects but when climatic conditions are favorable, for example after good rains and a mild temperature, they can rapidly increase in number.
A Desert Locust adult can consume roughly its own weight in fresh food per day. A tiny fraction of an average swarm of locusts eats the same amount of food in one day as about 2,500 people.
Locust inflicted damage is geographically patchy and sporadic. Where the swarms of locusts do not land, losses do not occur. Where the swarms land and feed, crop loss can be 100% within hours.
Since last year, favorable ecological conditions and regular rainfalls in particular have allowed for a more rapid reproduction of locusts throughout Sahelian West Africa. To date, approximately 3.5 million hectares are at risk in the Sahel from the locust invasion.
In October, the swarms of desert locusts began moving north from the Sahel to winter breeding grounds in North Africa. New control efforts may be required in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya in the coming months, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). However, large swarms remain in the Sahel and control operations have intensified with regional and international donations of additional aircraft, pesticides, and equipment. Current control efforts are focused on protecting crops and pastureland. Throughout the affected countries in the region, more than 350,000 ha were treated in the first half of October, according to FAO.
USAID has developed a three step approach to combat the locusts currently affecting more than 3.5 million hectares in the Sahel: crop and pasture protection, swarm reduction, and capacity strengthening. This strategy was developed following analysis of the situation on the ground and in coordination with the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization and the Ministries of Agriculture in the affected countries.
To date, USAID has committed more than $8 million to support locust control efforts throughout the Sahel. Members of the USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team (USAID/DART), comprised of Locust Emergency Officers, remain in Mauritania, Mali, Niger, and Senegal to coordinate locust control efforts.
Current Situation
Mauritania
Locusts have reportedly affected approximately 1.6 million hectares in Mauritania causing national agricultural experts to warn of a major food crisis due to the extensive crop damage. The U.N. World Food Program (WFP) has already warned of a potential food crisis in the country, since under normal conditions Mauritania manages to grow only enough food to meet a third of national requirements. As of October 4, a total of 240,703 of the 1.6 million hectares infested (15 percent) had been treated with pesticides, according to FAO.
UNICEF/Mauritania is preparing for a nutritional emergency as a result of the impact of the locust infestation. The Food Security Commission plans to complete a national vulnerability survey by the end of October, the results of which will be used to identify areas to be targeted by response efforts. UNICEF is monitoring the potential nutritional impact on children throughout the region as a result of the locusts.
Mali
According to Mali’s Locust Control Operations Center in the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), the locust infestation is worsening in central and eastern areas of the country, and large swarms have returned in western Mali around Kayes, Yelimane, and the Mauritanian border. The most concentrated swarms are reported in Mopti, Tombouctou, and the Goa triangle. According to the MOA, critical air and ground support are currently insufficient in Mali to support the intensive crop protection spraying and surveillance activities needed to save portions of what could be a bumper harvest. In prior years, Mali has been an exporter of surplus harvests to neighboring countries. Thus, a decrease in Mali’s harvest could have negative implications for food security in the region. According to FAO, Mali accounts for almost 25 percent of the total Sahel cereal production.
As of October 7, a total of 211,913 of the 871,418 hectares infested had been treated with pesticides, according to the MOA. The Government of Mali estimates current crop losses at 440,000 MT. Despite pledges of equipment to assist in the locust eradication effort, unless resources arrive immediately, it may be too late to save segments of this year’s harvest affected by the locust infestation, according to the MOA.
For more information about the current situation in Mali, please visit this page.
Senegal
According to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 46 treatment teams are on the ground in Senegal and control efforts have succeeded in containing the spread of the locusts. As of October 4, a total of 276,293 of the 307,316 hectares infested (65 percent) had been treated with pesticides, according to FAO. To date, locust damage has not affected the main agricultural land in the southwest.
Niger
According to reports from the October 1 locust control meeting in Niger, swarms are increasing in size. As of October 4, a total of 106,631 hectares had been treated with pesticides in Niger. The Government of Niger estimates that 750,000 hectares will be affected by the locusts, but to date no significant locust infestations have been reported in the southern agricultural zone, which produces 50 percent of the country’s harvests. Swarms have been reported in the Air Mountains and in the Tenere, possibly indicating that the locusts have begun to migrate north to the Maghreb.
Burkina Faso
On October 1, FAO reported that immature swarms are forming in Burkina Faso. As of October 4, a total of 5,456 of the 19,426 hectares infested had been treated with pesticides, according to FAO. On September 29, the country’s Minister of Agriculture urged farmers to harvest crops as early as possible to avoid losing them to the locusts.
Cape Verde
Several swarms, and related crop damage, have been reported in Cape Verde. On October 1, FAO reported that 10 swarms had reached 5 of the Cape Verde islands. Although no figure of locust damage is available, the country only produces 20 percent of national consumption requirements under normal conditions, so damage from the locusts may exacerbate an already acute food security situation. Cape Verde lost almost the entire 2004 maize harvest due to drought conditions in July and August. As of October 4, a total of 500 hectares had been treated with pesticides, according to FAO.
Response Efforts
FAO is the U.N. designated lead on emergency transboundry pest outbreaks. As of October 1, FAO had received $14.7 million, and pledges for an additional $40 million, in response to the appeal for $100 million to combat the locust invasion. FAO has contributed approximately $6 million from its own resources to the appeal. Donor contributions to FAO’s appeal include the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Norway, France, and Italy. Additionally, the United States, France, Italy, and Belgium have provided aircraft and funds to FAO to meet aerial spraying requirements. Countries in northern and northwestern Africa, notably Morocco, Algeria, and Libya, continue to make significant contributions, including pesticides, vehicles, technical assistance, and communication and spray equipment to combat the regional locust threat. Many of governments in the Sahel have also signed a Memorandum of Understanding to allow control teams to conduct cross-border operations.
U.S. Government Humanitarian Assistance
In response to the current locust upsurge affecting the Sahel, major donors including USAID have adopted a regional strategy to channel funding for the locust emergency through FAO’s appeal. FAO also coordinates closely with USAID/OFDA’s Assistance for Emergency Locust/Grasshopper Abatement (AELGA) project to identify appropriate activities that USG funding can support.
To date, USAID/OFDA has provided more than $4.7 million to support locust control efforts throughout the Sahel. A USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team (USAID/DART), comprised of locust emergency personnel, is currently on the ground. The USAID/DART has deployed throughout the region to provide technical assistance to national governments and help coordinate the USG response to the locust emergency. USAID/OFDA has also provided six crop-dusting planes, capable of spraying a total average of 7,500 hectares per day, for regional control efforts. The planes will initially target areas in Mauritania and Senegal using the pesticide Malathion. USAID/OFDA is procuring 200,000 liters of Malathion, sufficient to treat 200,000 hectares, for this operation.
To date in FY 2004, USAID’s Bureau for Africa (USAID/AFR) has provided $800,000 to FAO for emergency locust operations. In addition, USAID/AFR has provided $651,000 to the USAID Mission in Senegal for response activities in Senegal and Mauritania. USAID/Mali has also provided $1 million through FAO to support regional locust control efforts and $100,000 to the Government of Mali.
USAID’s Bureau of Asia and the Near East (USAID/ANE) has provided $200,000 to the Moroccan Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) to purchase protection, spraying, and communications equipment.
On April 14, 2004, U.S. Ambassador LeBaron issued a disaster declaration for the locust outbreak in Mauritania, which affected the regions of Adrar, Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Tiris Zemmour, and Inchiri. On April 15, 2004, U.S. Ambassador Riley issued a disaster declaration due to the locust outbreak in Morocco. In response to both, USAID/OFDA providing $500,000 to FAO for continued locust prevention and response activities region-wide. On September 2, 2004, Ambassador Huddleston issued a disaster declaration due to the locust emergency affecting Mali. In response, USAID/OFDA provided $50,000 through USAID/Mali to support the Government of Mali’s special account for combating the locust infestation.
On September 23, 2004, Ambassador Roth declared a disaster in Senegal due to the magnitude of the locust infestation. In lieu of the Ambassador's authority of $50,000, USAID/OFDA has provided more than $2.6 million to date for emergency operations for locust mitigation and response activities in Mauritania and Senegal.
On September 21, 2004, Ambassador Stafford determined that the impending threat of a locust infestation was beyond the capacity of the local and national authorities in The Gambia. In response, on September 24, USAID/OFDA provided $50,000 to FAO to support the relief and prevention efforts in The Gambia.
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