30/05/2025
The Desert Locust (Schistocerca gregaria) is the most destructive migratory pest in the world. They consume their own weight per day, targeting food crops and forage. Just a single square kilometer of swarm can contain up to 80 million adults, with the capacity to consume the same amount of food in one day as 35,000 people. Large swarms pose a major threat to food security and rural livelihoods.
One of the core interventions/objectives of DLCO-EA is capacity building of the 9 member countries in migratory pest management including survey and monitoring for early warning and early action.
In this regard, DLCO-EA signed a Letter of Agreement with FAO-Somalia in February 2025 to strengthen Somalia’s Desert Locust Early Warning System by building the capacity of the national and state Desert Locust Units. The main activities that have been conducted include:
- Training of Desert Locust Officers in surveillance prospection and monitoring.
- Training of Trainers (Master trainers/ToT) from the DLU trained in surveillance prospection and monitoring of DL.
- Training of technicians in maintenance and repair of field control equipment and machinery.
- Training of Desert Locust Units on environmental protection, environmental and social health and safety, occupational health and safety, M+E, and impact assessment.
- Training of Scientists in laboratory and field assessment techniques, essential for supporting Desert Locust control operations.
The trainings involved both theoretical and field approaches that equipped the trainees with hands on skills in the various aspects of locust management. A total of 150 trainees benefited from the various trainings that brought participants from Somaliland, Puntland and Galmudug.
“Somalia is a breeding ground for locusts as well as a gateway to invasion countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda Tanzania and South Sudan. There is therefore urgent need to equip desert locust teams with skills in early detection and management techniques before the locusts can develop into swarms that will devastate the region”, Moses Rwaheru Mwesigwa, Director DLCO-EA in his closing remarks at one of the training sessions in Hergeisa.
While closing the training of scientists in laboratory and field assessment techniques, the Deputy Minister of Agricultural Development appreciated DLCO-EA and the support from FAO-Somalia, for equipping desert locust teams with skills that will safeguard the region from food insecurity through early detection and management of desert locusts. He further called for establishment of a DLCO-EA base in the country for ease of coordination.
DLCO-EA appreciates FAO Somalia for the financial support and the various Government officials for the successful mobilization support as well as the technical team that facilitated the trainings.
Ends.
