Kenya losing fight against desert locust invasion

Kenya could be losing the fight against desert locust invasion after it emerged the use of pesticides is ineffective in the war.

Coastal counties of Lamu, Tana River and Kilifi have already reported desert locust invasion in the second wave of attack that has left farmers counting losses.

During a retreat of the National Research Fund in Naivasha over the weekend, scientists from different universities and organisations raised doubts on the effectiveness of pesticides to fight desert locusts.

University Education and Research PS Samson Nabukwesi said it was becoming harder to control the locusts that were spreading at an alarming rate.

While challenging the scientists to seek new methods of controlling the locusts, the PS admitted that the current use of pesticides was not effective.

“We should engage our scientists to seek new biological methods of controlling the locusts which are reproducing very fast,” Nabukwesi said.

He said that a lot of manpower was required to control the locusts and challenged researchers to come up with pesticides that were environmentally friendly.

The PS admitted that research funding was a major challenge, especially in universities after the government slashed allocations to the institutions.

“Currently the National Research Fund is working on a strategy on resource mobilisation and our universities are doing a lot in terms of research,” he said.

Nabukwesi said the fund was studying the effects of Covid-19, cancer and supporting visually impaired minors and the fight against locust invasion.

“The National Research Fund is also working on food security in some counties and assisting minors who have challenges in hearing and seeing to communicate through technology,” he said.

National Research Fund chief executive Jemima Onsare said funding and personnel were still a challenge to the organisation.

She said they had embarked on mobilising funds for various projects.

“The country has high potential in the field of research and all that our scientists require is funding and the findings can be commercialised,” Onsare said.

Last month, Agriculture CS Peter Munya announced that the country would this month face a new wave of locust invasion from Somalia.

“We have activated all our bases in Wajir and sent more NYS personnel to conduct ground and aerial spraying having received 216,000 litres of pesticide,” Munya said.