Ethiopia has recently identified desert locust swarms in multiple regions and a city administration, according to an official announcement on Saturday.
State Minister for Ethiopia Government Communication Service, Selamawit Kassa, revealed that these locust swarms have been spotted in the Afar, Amhara, Somali, Tigray, and Oromia regions, as well as in the Dire Dawa city administration.
The impact of these locust swarms has already taken a toll on approximately 25,000 hectares of crops, resulting in reduced yields and posing a threat to the livelihoods of farmers in the affected areas.
To address this issue, a comprehensive approach involving the active participation of farmers has been initiated. Combating the desert locust swarms requires a combination of traditional and modern methods, including aerial and vehicular spraying, as stated by Kassa.
In addition to the locust problem, infestations of termites have been detected across 15 zones in the Oromia, Afar, and Tigray regions, spreading over 317,000 hectares of land.
The official emphasized that both conventional and modern anti-pest measures are being employed to tackle termite infestations.
