Despite good rainfall, the Horn of Africa could suffer from an invasion of pilgrim locusts, according to the FAO. Numbers of these insects are on the increase in numerous countries, including Djibouti, Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia. In the latter two countries, these pests have already destroyed 70,000 hectares of crops. Terrestrial and airborne operations in Sudan treated 12,000 hectares of land in December. It should be noted that crickets can cover up to 150 km every day. According to the FAO, a cloud of pilgrim locusts can destroy a volume of crops sufficient to feed 2,500 people per year.
Source: Agence Ecofin
