Alarm as new wave of locusts invade Turkana South

A locust on a cotton crop in Kerio Valley in Elgeyo Marakwet county in January 2021. [File, Standard]

A new wave of locusts has invaded farms and grazing lands in Turkana South, posing a threat to food security and livelihoods in the region.

The invasion, reported earlier this week, has raised widespread alarm among farmers and pastoralists, who fear that the pests may devastate crops and vegetation.

The locusts have primarily been spotted in Lochwa-ang'ikamatak, Kanaodon, and Lokapel, where they are targeting essential vegetation, including acacia trees, fruit trees, and the invasive Prosopis juliflora, locally known as Mathenge.

"This is a serious threat. If these locusts are not controlled, they will wipe out our crops and pastures. We are worried about food shortages and how this will affect our families and livestock," said local elder John Lungi.

In response to the invasion, the Turkana County Department of Agriculture launched a rapid assessment mission last week to evaluate the extent of the damage and identify the locust species.

The assessment includes transect drives to estimate locust populations and assess their impact on crops and the environment.

County Director of Agriculture Aaron Nanok and County Crop Officer Gabriel Plata, who leads the assessment team, confirmed that locusts were found in open woodland areas, with population densities ranging from 30 to 70 hoppers per tree.