Hundreds of billions of locusts swarm in East Africa

10 March 2020

Hundreds of billions of locusts are swarming through parts of East Africa and South Asia in the worst infestation for a quarter of a century, threatening crops and livelihoods.

A man attempts to fend off a swarm of desert locusts at a ranch near the town of Nanyuki, in Laikipia county, Kenya

Reuters A man holds a stick to fend off a swarm of desert locusts — A man attempts to fend off a swarm of desert locusts at a ranch near the town of Nanyuki, in Laikipia county, Kenya

Men try to repel locusts flying over grazing land in Lemasulani village, Samburu county, Kenya

Reuters Samburu men attempt to repel locusts — Men try to repel locusts flying over grazing land in Lemasulani village, Samburu county, Kenya

The insects, which eat their own body weight in food every day, are breeding so fast numbers could grow four hundredfold by June.

A swarm of newly hatched desert locusts are seen on a tree as men look on, near the town of Archers Post, Samburu county

Reuters Newly-hatched desert locusts are seen on a tree with people looking on — A swarm of newly hatched desert locusts are seen on a tree as men look on, near the town of Archers Post, Samburu county

In January, the UN appealed for $76m (£59m) to tackle the crisis.

That figure has now risen to $138m.

A man walks by locusts in the region of Kyuso, Kenya

Reuters A man walks by locusts on the ground — A man walks by locusts in the region of Kyuso, Kenya

But so far, only $52m has been received, $10m of which has come this week from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Uganda Peoples Defence Forces soldiers spray trees with insecticides in Otuke

AFP Soldiers spray trees with insecticides — Uganda Peoples Defence Forces soldiers spray trees with insecticides in Otuke

The main threats are in East Africa and Yemen, as well the Gulf states, Iran, Pakistan and India.

A stalk of sorghum seeds partially eaten by locusts (left) is held next to an undamaged stalk in Nairobi, Kenya

Getty Images Two stalks of sorghum seeds — A stalk of sorghum seeds partially eaten by locusts (left) is held next to an undamaged stalk in Nairobi, Kenya

Swarms feed on shea trees, an important source of food and income for local farmers, in Otuke

AFP Swarms of locusts feed on shea trees — Swarms feed on shea trees, an important source of food and income for local farmers, in Otuke

Most recently, locusts have been seen in the Democratic Republic of Congo and swarms have arrived in Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar and along the coast of Iran.

A UPDF soldier prepares pesticide equipment in Katakwi

Getty Images A soldier prepares equipment to spray crops — A UPDF soldier prepares pesticide equipment in Katakwi

A UPDF soldier sprays plants with insecticides in Otuke

AFP A soldier sprays plants with insecticides — A UPDF soldier sprays plants with insecticides in Otuke

Aerial and ground spraying combined with constant tracking of the swarms are viewed as the most effective strategies.

But Desert Locust Control Organization for Eastern Africa head Stephen Njoka told BBC News aircraft were in short supply.

Currently, Ethiopia was using five and Kenya six for spraying and four for surveying, he said.

A woman holds a plastic bottle filled with locusts in Lopei, Uganda

AFP A woman holds a plastic bottle filled with locusts — A woman holds a plastic bottle filled with locusts in Lopei, Uganda

But the Kenyan government says it needs 20 planes for spraying - and a continuous supply of the pesticide Fenitrothion.

AFP A soldier holds a locust — A UPDF soldier holds a locust in Otuke

Getty Images A hand holds a desert locust — A desert locust is held in Katakwi

Kenya has trained more than 240 personnel from affected counties in monitoring of locust swarms.

A man runs through a desert locust swarm in the bush near Enziu, Kitui county, about 200km (124 miles) east of the capital, Nairobi

EPA A man runs through a desert locust swarm — A man runs through a desert locust swarm in the bush near Enziu, Kitui county, about 200km (124 miles) east of the capital, Nairobi

The Chinese government announced in February it was sending a team of experts to neighbouring Pakistan to develop "targeted programmes" against the locusts.

According to reports, they could deploy 100,000 ducks.

Locusts swarm across a highway at Lerata village, near Archers Post, about 300km north of Nairobi

AFP Locusts swarm across a highway — Locusts swarm across a highway at Lerata village, near Archers Post, about 300km north of Nairobi

A local tour guide holds a handful of dead desert locusts in Shaba National Reserve in Isiolo, northern Kenya

EPA A local tour guide holds a handful of dead desert locusts — A local tour guide holds a handful of dead desert locusts in Shaba National Reserve in Isiolo, northern Kenya

Lu Lizhi, a senior researcher with the Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, told Bloomberg the ducks were "biological weapons".

And while chickens could eat about 70 locusts in one day, a duck could devour more than three times that number.

"Ducks like to stay in a group, so they are easier to manage than chickens," he told Chinese media.

A desert locust swarm flies over a bush in Ololokwe, Samburu county

EPA A desert locust swarm flies over a bush — A desert locust swarm flies over a bush in Ololokwe, Samburu county