Kenya is intensifying its efforts to protect agricultural
productivity from transboundary migratory pests through regional cooperation.
On Monday, November 11, 2024, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Dr.
Andrew Karanja hosted the Director of the Desert Locust Control Organization for
Eastern Africa (DLCO-EA) Moses Mwesigwa to discuss coordinated approaches for
pest management across Eastern Africa.
The discussions focused on expanding their collaborative
efforts to provide greater protection for Kenyan farmers and strengthen
agricultural resilience.
This initiative is part of a larger effort to enhance food
security by addressing persistent threats like locusts and quelea birds which
have wreaked havoc on crops and threatened agricultural productivity in the
country.
Migratory pests are a significant concern in the country.
Between 2019 and 2020, Kenya suffered its most severe locust
invasion in over 70 years whereby locust swarms caused widespread crop damage,
endangering food supplies and economic stability.
The Ministry, through its Plant Protection Department, has
implemented a series of preventative and mitigative measures with officials
emphasizing that regional cooperation is essential to manage such cross-border
threats effectively.
The DLCO-EA is playing an essential role in pest control
across Eastern Africa serving countries like Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Sudan,
South Sudan, Eritrea, Somalia, and Djibouti.
By working closely with the DLCO-EA, Kenya hopes to align
its pest control strategies with neighbouring countries to create a unified
response to migratory pest threats.
Rapid cooperation with regional partners will help Kenya
implement early-warning systems and deploy swift responses when pest outbreaks
are detected.
The meeting with DLCO-EA corresponds with Kenya's broader
food security agenda which aims to protect local agriculture from pest-related
losses and boost economic stability.
By capitalizing on regional expertise and resources, Kenya seeks to equip farmers with effective tools and support systems to withstand transboundary pest invasions, a move that will ultimately ensure a stable food supply in the country.
