Date: Monday, 18 February 2019
A Nigerian Desert Locust Specialist, Dr Solomon Sunday, has called on the federal government to be prepare to fight the outbreak of desert locust approaching from Egypt, saying the fact that the pests are already in Egypt and Sudan shows that it is a possible threat to Nigeria, as it can get into the country through Niger Republic.
He said curbing it when it enters a country is always difficult because it would eat up all the vegetations hence the need to be at alert to prevent it.
The Good and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) had raised the alarm on Friday, saying heavy rains and cyclones have triggered a recent surge in Desert Locust populations, causing an outbreak to develop in Sudan and Eritrea that is rapidly spreading along both sides of the Red Sea to Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
The agency called on all the affected countries to step up vigilance and control measures to contain the destructive infestations and protect crops from this world’s most dangerous migratory pest.
Corroborating, the FAO, Dr. Sunday said, “Since has been notice in Egypt, Nigeria must be prepared by putting measures in place to prevent it, because Desert Locust can migrate long distance.
FAO however called it the world’s most dangerous migratory pest capable that could fly up to 150 km a day with the wind.
” We have to be very careful and pray, because if it comes to curb it is very difficult, as the a swamp of this locust can eat up a whole vegetation and it can not be manually control but developed nations used helicopter spray.
Though, it is an occasional pest, but it is very devastating and could lead to famine, with the outbreak bow in Egypt, it may be 50 or more years before it could be experience their again, so the Federal Government would have to be ready with good helicopter sprayers, but we pray it would get to Nigeria.
FAO also warned that increased vigilance, strict monitoring and early control needed to prevent further swarms forming and spread along both sides of the Red Sea.
Aerial spraying operations were mounted in Sudan and Saudi Arabia supplemented by ground control measures in both countries, as well as in Eritrea and Egypt, treating more than 80,000 ha since December.
“The next three months will be critical to bring the locust situation under control before the summer breeding starts,” said Keith Cressman, FAO’s Senior Locust Forecasting Officer.
“The further spread of the current outbreak depends on two major factors – effective control and monitoring measures in locust breeding areas of Sudan, Eritrea and Saudi Arabia and the surrounding countries, and rainfall intensity between March and May along both sides of the Red Sea and in the interior of the Arabian Peninsula.”
In it focast, FAO said breeding will continue in February on the Red Sea coast in Sudan and Eritrea, causing a further increase in hopper and adult groups, hopper bands and adult swarms.
