Farmers in Mwingi, Kitui County are in a rush to harvest their crops after desert locusts that invaded the area last week spread across the region.
Swarms of desert locusts are reported to be invading Mwingi region daily from the neighbouring Garissa and Wajir counties, forcing the farmers to embark on early harvesting.
“Locusts are here with us and I have to rescue my farm yields especially the mature ones to ensure I have food for my family otherwise I will lose the entire farm produce to the pests,” said John Muthusi, a resident of Kyuso in Mwingi North Constituency.
The presence of the desert locusts poses a major setback to farmers who expected a bumper harvest following the successful rain season in October- December season.
The government in partnership with the Desert Locusts Control Organization is undertaking aerial spraying in the area with technical officers also deployed on the ground to control operations and train people on intervention measures.
Mwingi Central Sub County Deputy County Commissioner Omari Dima, while speaking to KNA in his office on Thursday, said the government will continue to undertake interventions and other mitigation activities to control the spread of the locusts.
Dima urged farmers to embark on early harvesting to salvage the farm produce that has matured to ensure they have food supply for their families.
The office of the Kitui governor has also deployed technical officers to fight the desert locusts and as well advise farmers on mitigation activities.
The Kitui County Agriculture minister Emmanuel Kisangau commended interventions being undertaken by National Desert Locusts Control Unit.
Kisangau observed that to improve the efficiency of the locust control they need to maintain close ground surveillance to locate areas where the locusts will be resting for aerial spraying.
