With renewed locust outbreaks already in full swing in three provinces, Agri SA predicts devastating swarms in the summer as locust eggs on infiltrated land begin to hatch.
This, says the agriculture giant, will lead to an even greater locust outbreak if no proactive measures are taken. Yields will be affected and the country may struggle to control the magnitude of the outbreak, says Andrea Campher, risk and disaster manager at Agri SA.
Outbreaks are currently underway in parts of the Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, and Western Cape. This, after more than 23 million hectares of land were affected by locust outbreaks during 2021 and 2022 – the worst outbreak in at least 25 years.
During this period, the land was infiltrated by locusts, suggesting another bad year for farmers in the coming growing period, says Campher. As much as 90% of the 23 million hectares of the infiltrated land is agricultural land. Unless urgent action is taken, 2023 could see even greater losses.
“With the above-normal rains expected this summer according to the South African Weather Service, we can expect devastating swarms in the 2022/2023 summer season as locust eggs on the infiltrated land hatch.
“Despite the magnitude of the threat facing the sector, timeous renewal of contracts of locust officers in the affected provinces did not take place which poses a risk to locust control operations.”
Agri SA has secured an urgent meeting with agriculture, land reform and rural development minister Thoko Didiza as well as director-general Mooketsa Ramasodi’s office to discuss government’s response to this looming disaster.
Among the issues under discussion will be the urgent issuing of locust officers’ contracts which have not been finalised, securing pesticide supplies and spraying equipment, the distribution of protective equipment for officers, training of new officers, and government’s capacity to finalise payment claims.
Agri SA believes it is necessary to address some of the challenges encountered in the previous financial year ahead of the anticipated worsening of locust outbreaks.
Previously, many of these issues were only addressed with the assistance of private sector funding to mitigate the impact of public sector shortcomings. However, Agri SA says on a positive note, Didiza’s department has revised the fuel tariffs since 2013 for this coming locust season which will ensure sustainable controlling operations for officers.
“Agri SA and its affiliates will continue to make every effort to ensure that farmers are protected from the worst effects of the outbreak, and to ensure that consumers experience minimal disruption to food supplies owing to the outbreak.”
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