Emergency Assistance for Capacity Development in the Current Desert Locust Outbreak Areas Control in Eritrea - TCP/ERI/3801
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The Eritrean economy is heavily dependent on the agriculture sector, which contributes around 16 9 percent of the total gross domestic product However, the sector is seriously threatened by invasions of Desert Locust ( the most important pest in the country, and one that impoverishes farmers and threatens food security and livelihoods Locust infestation also has a negative impact on forestry and the ecosystem Despite DL control efforts, the situation has rapidly deteriorated Weather conditions across the Horn of Africa in January 2020 were unusually conducive to the spread and breeding of the pest after the arrival of Cyclone Pawan in early December 2019 These conditions allowed breeding until June 2020 and the formation of large numbers of swarms The Desert Locust is considered the most destructive migratory pest in the world, as it is highly mobile and feeds on green vegetation, including crops, pasture and fodder The pest is capable of stripping an area’s vegetation, and can cause large scale agricultural and environmental damage Even a very small 1 km 2 swarm can eat the same amount of food in one day as about 35 000 people A typical swarm can be made up of 150 million locusts per square kilometre and is carried on the wind for distances of up to 150 km in one day A single large swarm in Kenya was recently recorded with an area of 60 km by 40 km a swarm of that size can consume the equivalent amount of kilocalories in one day as millions of people Outbreaks of DL can thus be especially devastating in areas where food security is poor and where every gram of food produced counts towards alleviating hunger.