The Kenya Farmers Federation North Eastern branch vice chair Dubat Amey now wants President Uhuru Kenyatta to declare the locust invasion in parts of the country a national disaster.
Agriculture chief administrative secretary Andrew Tuimur yesterday confirmed the tree locust variety have invaded about 494,210 acres of land in Merti sub-county in Isiolo county.
Residents of North Horr in Marsabit county have also reported the pests, which disrupted classes in some schools last week. Attempts to control the pests by schools were futile and pupils had to sit under trees to continue with learning.
Addressing the press in Garissa town on Wednesday, Amey who was flanked by a host of farmers
termed the locust a menace that was not only destructive to the environment but wipe out farmlands.
“We are urging the government to embark on a massive aerial spraying of the locust before they spread to neighboring counties,” Amey said.
He at the same time urged the international organizations among others the FAO, IGAD and European Union to assist the government in containing the spread of the dreaded locusts.
“We are starring at a massive food shortage in the country of the locust invade the rich agricultural regions of this country. The invasion is no longer a ministerial affair but a national concern,” he added.
“These are insects that can quickly and within no time turn a country into a desert if action is not taken,” he noted.
Dubat said already the locusts have been spotted in Isiolo, Turkana, Samburu and Baringo counties and now threatens so spread southwards.
In Marsabit, farmers have resulted to hiring youth to scare away locusts that have invaded their maize and bean farms. The pests have also invaded parts of Turkana East sub-county that borders Samburu, Baringo and West Pokot.
However, Tuimur assured this type of locusts invades trees and shrubs, unlike the desert locusts which are more dangerous and feed on grass and crops.
“We have sent a team of officers for surveillance and we have also contacted the Desert Locust Control Organization for Eastern Africa who have provided a plane to spray the pests to avoid any attack that could affect browsing for goats and camels,” the CAS had told the Star.