The most serious desert locust outbreak in 70 years could leave nearly 5 million people in East Africa facing starvation, according to the International Rescue Committee (IRC). It comes as many of the countries in the region are already struggling to manage food insecurity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kenya is battling locust plagues, spurred on by unusual weather patterns, caused by climate change, which have created ideal breeding conditions. Start-up 'The Bug Picture' is helping local communities profit from the pests. The Bug Picture is paying local communities to harvest the insects and mill them, turning them into protein-rich animal feed and organic fertilizer. The insects are ...
India is battling its worst desert locust outbreak for decades and is using a helicopter and 12 drones to spread insecticide to battle the swarm.
India to use helicopter and drones to stop swarm of locusts | World ...
A farmers’ association in Kenya’s northern Laikipia area said it was planning aerial spraying of pesticides to combat the worst locust plague since 1954. The FAO estimated one swarm in Kenya to be 40 km wide by 60 km long (25 by 40 miles).
A new generation of locust swarms is threatening to wipe out the livelihoods of farmers and herders across eastern Africa - deepening a food crisis in a region where 35 million people are already hungry, the United Nations warned.
Locust swarms threaten to devastate crops in eastern Africa | World ...
Reuters Pictures of the year: Environment collection includes California’s worst ever wildfire season. Plagues of locusts in Africa and deforestation in the Amazon also feature. Floods in Japan and Central America were among 2020’s extreme weather events. The photographs also show images of hope and resilience.