Heavy rains heighten threat of locust infestation

Agricultural experts are concerned at the potential for a locust infestation in Yemen, following heavy rains and flash floods over the past two weeks. Abdu Far’e al-Rumaih, general director of the Desert Locusts Control Center (DLCC) in Yemen, said they were on “high alert” as big groups of migratory locusts, usually common in costal areas, have been spotted recently in the eastern governorate of al-Mahrah bordering of Oman. He pointed out that pest control experts are now fighting swarms of locusts which go after cereals in particular. "The area has not seen this kind of locusts on such a big scale since 1978. They have affected 300 hectares. However, we can say the situation is under control and we will provide them with more fighting equipment," al-Rumaih said. He pointed out that al-Mahra is a potential grazing area and that the affected areas were full of maize. “We are very concerned about the situation now. Rainfall in farming areas provides a good environment for locust breeding. We are afraid that if the rainfall continues, a potential outbreak and migration of locust is expected,” he added. He stressed that the weather forecast predicts the bad weather to continue, encouraging locusts. “We expect that locusts in the valley of Tihama to the west will breed. However, our monitoring, which usually starts in October every year, will start now to enable us to discover any outbreak in the area," al-Rumaih said. He pointed out that they were afraid of further locust incursions from countries in the Horn of Africa, mainly Eritrea, where they are also active. Heavy rains in the western coastline area, stretching to the north and northeast areas in Yemen resulted in flash floods, which caused accidents leading to around 50 deaths and 270 injuries, according to sources at the department of Civil Defense at Ministry of Interior. Around 15 people were struck by lightening, mainly in the northern governorate of Sa'ada and Hajja in the northwest. The rainfall also caused damage to houses and farms, but no statistics have been released by the government. Mohammed Sulan, operations manager at the Yemeni Red Crescent Society (YRCS) said there was no accurate death toll as of yet. He added that their local branches had assisted people in several areas. Al-Rumaih said that the DLCC was prepared to intervene at any time to fight locust swarms. "We are in touch with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and update them all the time of the situation. We have even tested our devices to say if they need any maintenance in an expectation to interfere any time." Despite the readiness of the DLCC, al-Rumaih said that pest control equipment that had been hijacked in Marib governorate, northeast of the capital, Sana, last July has still not been returned, creating problems. "Our pest control devices which were hijacked by some tribesmen in Marib were delivered to the officials in Marib, but they refused to give them back to us. We hope that they will understand the dangerous situation and return them." he said. The hijacked equipment includes survey and field equipment, communications systems and two vehicles, at a total cost of more than US $200,000, al-Rumaih said. The DLCC has 37 sprayers and enough pesticides, he said, but not enough vehicles. There are only 12 vehicles available now, while its contingency plan calls for 50. He added that they reported this to the government. "We do lack finances for operations. The government does not provide the money beforehand, only when the disaster takes place. We told them that we cannot go through this headache of bureaucracy at the Ministry of Finance and that they should have reserves ready, so we can act quickly." There are two types of locusts in Yemen: the desert locust and the African migratory locust, the latter common in coastal areas. The insects, which weigh about two grams, can eat their own weight of green vegetation – leaves, flowers, bark, stems, fruit and seeds – in a day. When breeding conditions are right, they form dense and highly destructive swarms occupying several square kilometres of land. These swarms can strip an area of greenery within hours. Nearly all crops and plants, are at risk. Yemen faced locust invasions in 1986, 1987 and 1993, with a particularly serious outbreak in 1993. Outbreaks in 2002 and 2004 were successfully controlled.