The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Somalia have recently strengthened their partnership to scale up local capacities, surveillance and control operations to combat the desert locust upsurge.

In partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation of the Federal Government of Somalia, FAO is directly supporting Desert Locust Control Unit stations to undertake vital survey and control operations. The current situation is critical, with a second generation of mature adults laying eggs and a new generation of immature adults forming swarms in Ethiopia and Kenya. These could reach Somalia during the mainGuseason, ravaging young crops and pasture.

"FAO’s technical expertise and capacity to mobilize resources is key for Somalia to confront this crisis. Even in times of coronavirus, we must not forget the massive threat that desert locusts pose to Somalia’s food security and livelihoods,” said Said Hussein Iid, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation.

"Despite the current circumstances dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial that we keep reinforcing our collaboration and continue the hard work to contain the desert locust upsurge, and to protect lives and livelihoods. Otherwise, we could end up in a serious food crisis by the end of the year,” added Etienne Peterschmitt, FAO Representative in Somalia.

Source: FAO