There is need for concerted efforts among Intergovernmental Authority on Development member states to tackle desert locusts and other cross-border pests.
Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi made the clarion call on Wednesday in a speech read on his behalf by Livestock Development PS Jonathan Mueke.
“The transboundary nature of these pests requires a united regional response. It is essential that we coordinate our efforts to efficiently monitor, control, and mitigate their impact,” Linturi said.
There is also need to strengthen capacity to implement biopesticide-based pest management strategies.
Challenges posed by transboundary pests are significant and collaboration will develop and implement strategies that will protect agriculture and secure food systems, Linturi said.
The CS's remarks were made during the steering committee and ministerial meeting on transboundary pest management at Radisson Blu.
He said the meeting, organised by the Inter-Regional Platform for Managing Transboundary Pests, will facilitate international collaboration, align policies across borders, and enhance understanding of the impact of climate change on pest dynamics.
In 2019 and 2020, Kenya was among the most severely affected countries during the desert locust upsurge. Desert locust swarms invaded the country for the first time in 70 years, affecting the northern region.
The swarms came into the country from Ethiopia and Somalia on December 28, 2019, before spreading to 28 counties.
Authorities were jolted into action as the swarm posed a risk to food security, undermining economic growth.
Through Fao's support, Kenya was able to protect pastoralist livelihoods, averting a loss of 11,338 hectares of crop worth $3.4 million. But in 2020, another generation started forming swarms.
Igad Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu cited desert locusts, Quelea birds, fall armyworms, and African armyworms as among the persistent threats of transboundary pests that stand out.
“The frequent outbreaks of these pests, particularly the desert locusts, pose severe threats to agriculture across our region, worsening food insecurity and economic instability,” Gebeyehu said.
The transboundary nature of pests adds a layer of complexity to the region’s efforts, as they disregard national borders, necessitating a unified regional response.
“Climate change further compounds this issue, with events like El Niño creating favourable conditions for pest propagation. The erratic weather patterns, a consequence of climate change, are making it increasingly difficult for our agricultural communities to plan and safeguard their livelihoods, leading to crop failures, food shortages, and displacement.”
Gebeyehu said the unprecedented rainfall in 2019, triggered by El Niño, resulted in one of the most severe desert locust outbreaks in recent history, destroying vast tracts of agricultural land.
“This crisis was a stark reminder of the imperative for a unified regional strategy,” he said.
The 34th Extraordinary Summit of the Igad Heads of State and Government in February 2020 tasked the Authority with leading efforts to combat the desert locust invasion.
With the support of the World Bank's Emergency Locust Response Program, Igad established the Inter-Regional Platform for Sustainable Management of Desert Locusts and Other Transboundary Pests in 2021.
Gebeyehu said the three-day meeting seeks to enhance commitment by adopting harmonised policies and regulations to strengthen preventive measures and enhance technical competencies, among others.
During the meeting, member states declared a shared commitment to creating a comprehensive roadmap that gives top priority to strengthening food systems in the region.
The roadmap will also focus on enhancing resilience to the various risks and shocks, including transboundary pests that affect food security.
Igad member states include Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda. It covers 5.2 million square kilometers and serves 261.2 million people.
Member states also encourage harnessing of innovative technologies, such as the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), satellite monitoring systems and digital data collection tools for transboundary pest surveillance, monitoring and control operations.