SWARMS of locusts have descended on farms in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, destroying crops, the country’s department of agriculture said yesterday.
Research manager Lumkile Ngada said swarms of locusts were discovered in the Ukhahlamba District and have now moved on to Whittlesea near Queenstown, destroying everything in their path.
‘The department had been alerted to the locust invasion by a farmer. The locusts devoured all his lucerne.
‘Plant pathologists, weed scientists and entomologists have been dispatched to the affected areas,’ he said.
Control measures, including the spraying of pheromones and insecticides, have been instituted.
Farmers in the area need to take precautions to protect their crops, he said.
‘They need to use insecticides to protect their farms as the locusts have caused major damage to crop plants,’ said Ngada.
– Nampa-Sapa
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