Agbiz says the outbreak is likely to lead to large maize shortfalls in East Africa, and the Southern African region is well placed to fill the shortage
Samburu men try to fend off a swarm of desert locusts flying over a grazing land in Lemasulani village, Samburu County, Kenya. Picture: REUTERS/NJERI MWANGI
In a market update on Monday, the Agriculture Business Chamber , an organisation that represents commercial farmers and agribusiness, said the outbreak is likely to lead to large maize shortfalls in East Africa, and the Southern African region is well placed to fill the shortage. Locusts are part of a large group of insects commonly called grasshoppers. Swarms can travel between 5km and 130km or more in a day. A desert locust adult — the most devastating of all locust species — can consume about its own weight in fresh food a day — that is about 2g. A small part of an average swarm eats the same amount of food in one day as about 10 elephants or 25 camels or 2,500 people, according to the FAO.
If the outbreak is not controlled and conditions remain favourable for breeding, it could reach 30 countries in Africa and Asia, the UN said.
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