FOOD SECURITY AND POLICY BRIEF FOCUS DESEART LOCUST

Month: April Release Date: 4th June 2020

Desert locust’s Impact on Food security and Policy recommendations

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Highlight:  South Countries experiencing the worst desert locust.  Government, UN Agencies and Civil Societies are working together to control the spread of desert locust in  Hundreds of thousands of hectares of crops and pastures have been affected in South Sudan.

collaboration  FAO consolidated appeal in response to crises was USD 138 million.in early march 2020, an addendum calling for an additional USD 15.2 million was added.

Food and Agricultural Food and

of NBS in Introduction

from The swarm of the desert Locusts that entered South Sudan originated during the winter of 2018 in Middle East after the Rea sea cyclone. The swarm hits Asia in 2019 and moved to east

(FSTS)

pport African countries of Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, Somalia and Eritrea and Uganda Between

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December 2019 and January 2020.The first official Report of Invasion into South Sudan was on the 17th of February 2020. A Mature swarm entered and West from Northern Uganda. On Saturday 21 March 2020, Desert Locusts arrived in County from Eastern aided by westerly winds. The swarm hovered around the Payams of Bilinyang, Muguri,

Security with Security , Muniki, Gure, Gudele and Jopa. It later split into two swarm lets, one bigger than the other. The bigger swarm let move northwards via Bor towards the border between South Sudan and Ethiopia, while the smaller one moved westward and was sited in Mundri on Monday 23 March 2020. The areas around Torit remain invaded by Desert Locusts; the invasion

Organization of the United Nation (FAO) United Organization of the of Juba was unexpected based on prediction of Desert Locusts migration patterns. Field monitors confirmed that most Desert Locusts spotted in South Sudan are matured females. However, reports from Kenya and Uganda indicated that new generations have started emerging and may invade South Sudan.

Areas invaded and affected by the desert locust in South Sudan

by the Food Security Technical Secretariat the Food Technical Security by

The first Counties affected by the desert Locust invasion in the country are Magwi, torit, and

Ministry of Agriculture and Food Ministry of Agriculture , especially in payams of, Lobne, Pajok, Imurok, Obo and Magwi. prepared prepared The second invasion occurred in Juba county on Saturday 21 march.2020. It hovered around the areas of Bilinyang, Muguri, Gondokoro, Munuki, Gure, Gudele and Jopa afterwhich it split into two swarm let, one bigger than other.

Threats and Risks  At high population, Locust swarms can travel between 5 – 150 km and more on a day depending on the weather condition.  There is high risk of reaching to extreme south east of South Sudan in the counties of magwi, and Ikotos, and the surrounding areas in . 1 National Bureau of Statistics (Food security Technical Secretariat) P.O.Box 137, Juba-South Sudan Email:[email protected], website: www.ssnbs.org

 I Km Square Swarm (40 – 80 M) of the desert locusts eat the same food as 35,000 people could eat in a day.  Impact on pastures, crops and fruits, is affecting food security and livelihood of the communities.  If these hoppers are not properly controlled, there is a high risk of locust swarm invasion in South Sudan.  Currently, people are already facing severe acute food insecurity, and this would be more complex and expensive to control in some areas if care is not taken, and may post even more serious threat to the livelihoods and food security of millions more people.  Hundreds of thousands of hectares of crops and pastures will be affected in South Sudan at the risk of further damage during the agricultural season.  A new generation of locusts have continued breeding, and with the starts of rains, swarms would form as planting starts and rangeland regenerated.

The areas of risk according to ICPAC (Inter Governmental Climate Prediction and Application Centre) are Classified into a very high risk and the highest risk for invasion, respectively.

The areas with the very high risk for the crop season is projected to be in states of Northern Bahr El Ghazal, Warrap, Lakes, Jonglei, Eastern Equatoria and as well. While Upper Nile State is likely to be at a very High Risk.

Response in South Sudan

FAO, OCHA, a host of civil society and partners are on the ground, supporting government led locust control and surveillance, preparing rapid impact assessments and as well preparing for rolling livelihoods interventions.

Effort is underway to control locust’s populations from multiplying 400 fold by June 2020.FAO consolidated appeal in response to crises was USD 138 million.in early march 2020, an addendum calling for an additional USD 15.2 million was added. This was in recognition of the massive potential threats posed by the pest breeding in unreachable country sites. So far, multiple international donors are in response to the consolidated appeal and have pledged USD 110 million.

 FAO is working alongside the Government in training field monitors on surveillance and reporting  To date, FAO has secured some funds to combat the locust  Terms are currently active in field assessing damaged and helping terms target swarms.  FAO South Sudan has so far secured the followings;  Trained 75 personnel for monitoring and control  Knapsack sprayers – 1000 provided  100 PPE

2 National Bureau of Statistics (Food security Technical Secretariat) P.O.Box 137, Juba-South Sudan Email:[email protected], website: www.ssnbs.org

 15, 000 liters of Malathion  95% ULV under procurement  Established DL hotline 515  50 Smart phones loaded with multilingual tools eLocust3m apps

The objective of this desert locust policy on current situation in South Sudan

 To provide a basis for uniform messaging with technically sound information to the most affected farming and agro pastoral communities.  To strengthen regional cooperation in support of national plans for the control of the desert locust’s activities thereof, inter alia through the exchange of best practices including but not limited to pesticides education, environmental impact, health system strengthening, through the development, protection and dissemination of appropriates messaging.

C hallenge s of desert locusts control measures in the country.

 lack of proper equipment to monitor the movement of swarm into different areas across the country.  Scarcity of resources to support the activity  Lack of skill labour technician experts.  Inadequate pesticides spray chemical  FAO has faced challenges in procuring pesticides and specialized equipment - not readily available in common markets  Poor communication system to disseminating information

Policy recommendation of desert locust in the country

 Continuous training and capacity building for field monitors is necessary  Surveillance and monitoring the occurrence and activities of the desert locust in potential areas of invasion to build a sustainable early warning.  Arial control to be triggered once the swarm settled  Chemical /pesticides for spray should be readily available  There should be awareness creation on danger associated with desert locusts  Translation of the information in different languages may ease awareness creation  Immediate expansion of monitoring mechanism to other location  Continues monitoring of the swarm behaviours to identify areas where swarm have laid eggs.  Immediate scale –up support is needed to avoid further spread, and anticipatory action must be put in place to protect the livelihoods of the people

Reference sources of information: FAO update and Directorate of plant protection and surveillances, Ministry of Agriculture and food security/RSS/Juba & ICPAC (IGAD Climate Prediction & Applications Centre)

3 National Bureau of Statistics (Food security Technical Secretariat) P.O.Box 137, Juba-South Sudan Email:[email protected], website: www.ssnbs.org

MAP SHOWING PROJECTED AREAS FOR DESERT LOCUST’S RISK IN SOUTH SUDAN

4 National Bureau of Statistics (Food security Technical Secretariat) P.O.Box 137, Juba-South Sudan Email:[email protected], website: www.ssnbs.org