There's growing alarm in East Africa about huge swarms of desert locusts which are spreading across the region.
The swarms have been destroying vegetation, forcing farmers into desperate measures.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation says the crisis threatens food security across the region.
It’s the worst invasion of desert locusts in the Horn of Africa in 25 years, and in Kenya for 70 years.
Newsday has been speaking to Mehari Tesfayohannes, chief information and forecasting officer.
Desert Locust Control Organisation (DLCO) for Eastern Africa is leading the effort to control the locusts by training the ground team.
Mehari Tesfayohannes, chief information and forecasting officer at DLCO is in Nakuru, Kenya training the team on locust control and management.
Tesfayohannes said the war on the desert locusts cannot be won by depending on the team spraying the locusts using the aircraft.
“If you have several aircraft unless you have a ground team this operation cannot be successful,” he said.
The ground team is being trained on the biological behaviour of the locusts, how to monitor them, control operation, sensitising the people and the safety of the pesticides.
The ground team will also inform the air team on the location and movement of the locusts.
