West African Region Receives Funding to Combat Locust Threat
The West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) has disbursed 100 million CFA francs to the Plant Protection Directorate (DPV) to counter the locust threat in Senegal. This financial support comes as 1.3 million hectares are threatened in the sub-region, representing a potential loss of 300 billion CFA francs.
Dr. Mabouba Diagne, Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Livestock, received the funds on , emphasizing that the aid will be prioritized for monitoring, prospecting, and spraying operations in the field.
The current locust situation echoes a broader, ongoing crisis across East Africa, where the worst desert locust outbreak in decades is unfolding. According to a report from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), climate events have facilitated breeding across the region, and a surge in the locust population is expected.
Experts predict the threat along the Senegal River will persist until mid-. Efforts are focused on pooling community resources. Amadou Tchambou, a representative of UEMOA, stressed the need for rigorous and efficient management of these resources to ensure the success of the national emergency plan, noting that 1100 hectares have already been treated to slow the spread of the plague.
The locust upsurge is a “scourge of biblical proportions,” according to a joint statement from the FAO, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, and the World Food Programme (WFP) issued in . The statement warned that action is needed now to avert a major food crisis later.
Desert locusts have a three-month reproduction cycle, making rapid intervention crucial. A swarm can hold 20 to 150 million locusts per square kilometer and migrate hundreds of kilometers per day, decimating crops and pastures quickly. Adult locusts can consume 2 grams of vegetation per day.
The current outbreak is considered the worst since 1990, with the potential to impact countries across West and North Africa. FAO predicts that swarms will move west and northwest, re-infesting Senegal and northern Mauritania. Some swarms are also expected to move southwards to Gambia, Guinea Bissau, and potentially Guinea by the end of the year. From October, the swarms are anticipated to invade North African countries, including Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya.
In West Africa, Mauritania, Senegal, Mali, and Niger are currently the most affected countries, but Burkina Faso, Chad, and Cape Verde are also experiencing the impact. As of a recent report, approximately 3.5 million hectares of land have been infested, with around 15.8% – or 543,750 hectares – treated in the five most affected countries.
The World Bank has also responded to the crisis, acknowledging the challenges of conducting locust control operations while mitigating the spread of other diseases, such as COVID-19. Special care is needed to reduce the risk of aid workers and control officers transmitting viruses to remote rural locations.
Modern technologies are increasingly being utilized in locust management, including drones, satellite and remote sensing systems, and biopesticides. Countries where locusts breed have made significant progress in harnessing these tools as part of a more sophisticated prevention arsenal.
However, a funding gap remains a significant obstacle. Resources have been slow to materialize, despite early warnings from the UN agriculture agency. The FAO had initially appealed for $138 million to help governments control the outbreak, but funding has not kept pace with the escalating crisis.
