Red locusts invade Otjozondjupa
The agriculture ministry has deployed spraying teams to the Otjozondjupa Region to minimise damage to crops and grazing areas after locust swarms were reported.
ELLANIE SMIT
WINDHOEK
Swarms of red locusts were detected in parts of the Otjozondjupa Region last week.
The executive director in the agriculture ministry, Percy Misika, says the pest had been detected mainly in the Murarani and Grootfontein areas.
Red locusts were also detected in the Zambezi Region in February this year. Since then the ministry has deployed spraying teams to the region to minimise damage to crops and grazing areas.
Misika said the ministry managed to contain the spread of locusts in the Zambezi Region.
“Unfortunately, since locusts can fly long distances there have been new swarms of locusts coming from neighbouring countries, causing the continued infestation of locusts in the region.”
Spraying teams
He said the ministry would deploy a team of plant health and extension officials to assess the situation and start spraying the affected areas.
The ministry will monitor the situation and make the necessary interventions to curb the further spread of the locusts.
Misika urged farmers in the Otjozondjupa Region to report any presence of red locusts in their areas to the nearest Agricultural Development Centre. Farmers are also advised to cooperate with the ministry’s officials during the spraying campaign.
Know the enemy
Red locusts are usually solitary, but under certain circumstances they become more abundant and change their behaviour and habits.
Under suitable conditions of drought followed by rapid vegetation growth, they breed abundantly and become nomadic, and their populations increase at a rapid pace.
They form bands of wingless nymphs that later become swarms of winged adults.
Adults can travel long distances of up to 150 kilometres a day, consuming most of the green vegetation wherever the swarm settles.
WINDHOEK
Swarms of red locusts were detected in parts of the Otjozondjupa Region last week.
The executive director in the agriculture ministry, Percy Misika, says the pest had been detected mainly in the Murarani and Grootfontein areas.
Red locusts were also detected in the Zambezi Region in February this year. Since then the ministry has deployed spraying teams to the region to minimise damage to crops and grazing areas.
Misika said the ministry managed to contain the spread of locusts in the Zambezi Region.
“Unfortunately, since locusts can fly long distances there have been new swarms of locusts coming from neighbouring countries, causing the continued infestation of locusts in the region.”
Spraying teams
He said the ministry would deploy a team of plant health and extension officials to assess the situation and start spraying the affected areas.
The ministry will monitor the situation and make the necessary interventions to curb the further spread of the locusts.
Misika urged farmers in the Otjozondjupa Region to report any presence of red locusts in their areas to the nearest Agricultural Development Centre. Farmers are also advised to cooperate with the ministry’s officials during the spraying campaign.
Know the enemy
Red locusts are usually solitary, but under certain circumstances they become more abundant and change their behaviour and habits.
Under suitable conditions of drought followed by rapid vegetation growth, they breed abundantly and become nomadic, and their populations increase at a rapid pace.
They form bands of wingless nymphs that later become swarms of winged adults.
Adults can travel long distances of up to 150 kilometres a day, consuming most of the green vegetation wherever the swarm settles.
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