Desert locust swarm invasions and control: Determinants, duration, food security and effectiveness of control measures
Loading...
Date
2022
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier Inc.
Abstract
Migratory desert locusts are partly to blame for chronic food insecurity in semi-arid areas.
However, insufficient risk information is available on locust determinants, duration, survival rates
and impacts on food security, but also on effectiveness of reactive control measures. The data
analysed included household survey (2020), MODIS Soil-Adjusted-Vegetation-Index (SAVI) and
Climate-Hazards-Group-Infrared-Precipitation with Station-data (CHIRPS) of 2018-2020.
Findings showed that the roaring swarms were determined by vegetation health, strong winds and
soil type (P<=0.05). The invasions lasted for 3 to 4 weeks, however, 90% of locusts survived
beyond one week. The ecosystems that favoured them included woodlands, wetlands,
thickets/shrubs, grasslands and farmlands. The greenness of vegetation is an important parameter
in the attraction of locusts. They fed on the green tree structure (leaves, nodes, shoots). Most swarm
invasions occurred during the rainy season. Overall, the invasions reduced crop and livestock
yields. After the attacks, most households depended on food purchases for atleast four months.
The most effective control measures implemented were ground and aerial pesticide spraying of
locusts that killed them along their life-cycle. It is therefore, important to strengthen locust
surveillance and use of chemicals in the management of locusts, but also strengthen disaster legal
and institutional systems.
Description
Keywords
Desert locusts, Survival, Locust control, Food security, Uganda
Citation
Barasa, Bernard and Watsusi, Cosmas Walyalula and Gudoyi, Paul Makoba and Lutaaya, Noah and akello, gertrude, Desert Locust Swarm Invasions and Control: Determinants, Duration, Food Security and Effectiveness of Control Measures. http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4280254