Locust infestation threatens over 2,000 hectares of maize in Western province, says Agric Coordinator Muntanga

A severe red locust infestation has affected over 2,000 hectares of maize fields in Western Province, with Limulunga District’s Luena Constituency among the hardest hit, according to Provincial Agricultural Coordinator (PACO) Rodwel Muntanga.

Western Province Principal Public Relations Officer, Mwakoi Njekwa, stated in Lusaka on Thursday that the infestation was not limited to Limulunga, as Sinjembela in Sioma District had also reported similar crop damage.

In response, Western Province Permanent Secretary Simomo Akapelwa led a fact-finding mission to Limulunga, accompanied by officials from the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), the Ministry of Agriculture, and the International Red Locust Control Organization (IRLCO).

Describing the situation as a disaster, Akapelwa said the government has already begun motorized spraying to curb the spread of the pests.

“As an immediate and broader containment measure, aerial chemical spraying has been recommended for the affected areas in Limulunga and Sioma,” he added.

Meanwhile, Ayoub Nchimbi, a scientist from IRLCO for Central and Southern Africa, warned that an infestation of 20 to 30 locusts per square meter possed a severe risk to maize crops if left unchecked.

“The government remains fully committed to swiftly managing and containing the red locust outbreak to safeguard the region’s food security,” Akapelwa assured.

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