The red locust is back and it’s a voracious eater. The swarm of red locusts, flying in from Mozambique through the Nyamapanda border post, has already destroyed crops in Kotwa growth point, Mutize, Masarakufa, and Dendera villages.
“The government is working to find a lasting solution to the problem in conjunction with the International Red Locust Control Organisation for Central and Southern Africa,” Agricultural Research and Extension Services Director, Dr Shadreck Mlambo said.
He said in the face of mounting challenges such as scarcity of funds to manage such large outbreaks, the government was making every effort to bring the situation under control.
The locusts destroy crops in the grass family like maize, and, in addition, animals that feed on infested pasture die. But there is a silver lining. The red locusts are edible and there has been a stampede by villagers to fill up bags and feast on them amid grinding poverty.
Government was said to be launching a joint operation with neighbouring countries to deal with the scourge as was done in 1996 when the Air Force of Zimbabwe, the International Locusts Control and other organisations from Southern Africa embarked on a joint operation to spray locust-breeding areas in the Pungwe Flats and Zambezi Delta in Mozambique.
Post published in: News