ETOP UPDATE VII-2013 OFDA-AELGA August 7, 2013 Emergency Transboundary (CNLA/Chad, CNLA/Mauritania, Outbreak Pest (ETOP) Situation CNLAA/Morocco, DLCC/Yemen, DLCO-EA, Report for July with a Forecast till DPPQS/India, FAO-DLIS, PPD/Oman, mid-September, 2013 PPD/Sudan). Summary The Desert Locust (SGR1) situation improved in July in spring breeding areas in northwest Africa and winter breeding areas in the Red Sea coasts in Egypt, Sudan and Saudi Arabia and in (Areas with some locust activities, FAO-DLIS 8/2013) the Arabian Peninsula. The situation remained a concern in the interior of Other ETOPs Yemen where breeding increased locust numbers, but control operations were Red (Nomadic) Locust (NSE): NSE undermined by the insecurity situation. swarms and concentrations persisted in Ikuu-Katavi plains in Tanzania and in the Some solitary adults were reported in Lake Chilwa/Lake Chiuta Plains in Malawi the summer breeding areas in Sahel and Mozambique. NSE populations were West Africa, Sudan and along the Indo- expected in Dimba, Buzi-Gorongosa Plains Pakistan borders in July. Locusts were of Mozambique and in the Kafue Flats and not detected during surveys carried out Lukanga swamps of Zambia. The situation in Ethiopia and Oman and no reports requires serious attention (IRLCO-CSA). were received from other countries, including Djibouti, Eritrea, and Somalia Forecast: Grass burning that is in progress during this period (CNLA/Chad, CNLA/ will force locusts to further concentrate and Mauritania, CNLAA/Morocco, form swarmlets. With the increase in DLCC/Yemen, DLCO-EA, DPPQS/ India, temperature over the coming months, some FAO-DLIS, PPD/Oman, PPD/Sudan). of the swarmlets will begin migrating to neighboring areas and invade. The situation Forecast: Small-scale breeding will requires serious attention to avoid any cause locust numbers to increase potential crop/pasture damage (AELGA, slightly in the summer breeding areas IRLCO-CSA). in the Sahel West Africa, Sudan as well as along both sides of the Indo- Madagascar Migratory Locust (LMC): In Pakistan borders where low numbers of early July, the Locust Watch Unit (LWU) solitary adults appeared in July, but established by the UN FAO, reported the significant developments are not presence of a swarm in Basalampy. On July expected during the forecast period 10th, a swarm was detected 30 km south of Antananarivo. The unusually warmer temperatures coupled with green vegetation 1 Descriptions of all acronyms can be found at the end of and prevailing winds created ideal the report. conditions for locusts to persist and :/SITREPS 2013 /ETOP update for July.2013 YTB 1 ETOP UPDATE VII-2013 OFDA-AELGA August 7, 2013 continued migrating up north, west the transitional gregarization and/or along the coast, northeast, etc. LWU multiplication areas and join local recently reported the presence of populations. Egg laying will likely commence swarms in western Madagascar from in the Horombe Plateau and in Zomandao Ambovombe to Basalampy in the Boeny plain during the first half of August. Should region, particularly in Morafenobe and ecological conditions remain favorable, Melaky region. The Unit reported crop outbreaks could occur in early September. damage in some localities in Menabe The same situation could be witnessed in region (LWU-DPV). the Manambien circle where favorable conditions exist for locusts to persist during Socio-economic impacts of locust the last decades of July. Vigilance, timely invasions: reporting and preventive and curative interventions remain crucial. In late July a Kapoka of rice cost between 400 and 550 MGA in the The latest locust information from FAO-DPV outbreak area and throughout the Deep is available at: South in general, Belo Tsiribihana to Ambovombe. In areas in the perimeter http://www.fao.org/emergencies/results/en of Mangoky or Dabaraha, the price is /?keywords=Madagascar%20locust%20crisi 450 MGA (Kapoka is a measurement s and http://www.fao.org/emergencies/crisi equivalent to a box or a cane carrying s/madagascar-locust/en/ some 390 grams of concentrated milk) (It is worth noting that the price of rice Moroccan (DMA), Italian (CIT), plays a major role in determining the Migratory (LMI) Locusts in Central Asia well-being of the Island State.). The and the Caucasus (CAC): A late received increase in the price of rice has led to a report indicated that the locust situation hike in the price of cassava (currently deteriorated during June in most of the 300 MGA per kg). Similar trends were Central Asian countries where suitable witnessed in other regions of the conditions allowed CIT and LMI hoppers to country, but the price increase was continue developing. Control operations slightly lower in areas that were locust treated more than 4.5 million ha during infestations were not reported. The June and continued in July in the CAC recent price increase is also attributed regions. to Hurricane Haruna that hit the southwestern part of the country in late Forecast: Given the large-scale egg laying February 2013 (LWU-DPV). by LMI in the Aral Sea flood plains in parts of Uzbekistan and adjacent countries last Forecast: Swarms will likely move year, escalated hatching and invasions are from the highland areas to the central likely during the forecast period. Massive area in Betsiriy plain in Minandrivazo, hatchings of CIT are likely during the Malaimbandy, Tsimazava, etc. and forecast period (FAO-ECLO). Increased augment the existing populations. They surveillance and monitoring and timely will also continue invading most of the preventive interventions must be outbreak areas before they disperse to maintained to avert any large-scale LMI :/SITREPS 2013 /ETOP update for July.2013 YTB 2 ETOP UPDATE VII-2013 OFDA-AELGA August 7, 2013 outbreaks and invasions (AELGA, FAO- OFDA/AELGA (Assistance for Emergency ECLO). Pest [Locust/Grasshopper] Abatement) will continue closely monitoring ETOP situations African Armyworm (AAW): AAW in all regions and issue dekadal and monthly outbreaks were not reported in the updates and advise as often as necessary. IRLCO-CSA member-countries and no End summary reports were received in the DLCO-EA member-countries or elsewhere, but it Progresses made in SGR Frontline is likely that some activities may have Countries: occurred in northern Ethiopia in July (AELGA, DLCO-EA, IRLCO-CSA). SGR frontline countries (FCs) in Sahel West Africa, namely Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Forecast: AAW will fade away from Niger, and Senegal (an invasion Ethiopia as the pest moves further country) have established autonomous north into southern Eritrea during the national locust control units (CNLA) forecast period. No activities are responsible for all DL activities. expected in the southern outbreak zone during the forecast period. Trap Funds provided by the African Development operators are encouraged to report any Bank, USAID, the World Bank, France, FAO, catches to the appropriate authorities host-governments as well as assistance for a timely response (AELGA, DLCO- from neighboring countries enabled FCs to EA, IRLCO-CSA). equip CNLAs and build infrastructure as well as train staff and help prevent and respond Quelea (QU): QU bird outbreaks were to SGR outbreaks. With these supports and reported in Kisumu, Narok and Nakuru with their own resources, FCs were able to counties in Kenya and in Mara and minimize and avoid the threats the SGR Morogoro regions of Tanzania. Eleven poses to food security and livelihoods of roosts with an estimated 20.4 million vulnerable communities. birds were controlled in Kenya in July by ground and aerial sprayers and Although security situation continue through other means (IRLCO-CSA). undermining surveillance and preventive interventions in some of the locust outbreak Forecast: QU birds are likely to areas, CNLAs’ persistent efforts to prevent, continue posing a problem to wheat mitigate, avert and respond to potentially and rice growers in Rift Valley and devastating SGR outbreaks and invasions Nyanza Provinces in Kenya, Tanzania, are a good example of sustainable in winter wheat growing areas in disaster risk reduction that deserves Zimbabwe as well as in other invasion encouragements and support. countries. Active surveillance and monitoring as well as timely reporting OFDA ETOP Activities and Impacts and interventions remain critical (AELGA, DLCO-EA, IRLCO-CSA). OFDA’s Senior Advisor for pesticides and pests participated in two back to back meetings at the 11th Technical Meeting and :/SITREPS 2013 /ETOP update for July.2013 YTB 3 ETOP UPDATE VII-2013 OFDA-AELGA August 7, 2013 the 7th Executive Committee meetings effort is underway to resume dialogue with of the CLCPRO in Agadir Morocco from partners in these regions. 10 – 14th June 2013. The meetings discussed technical, management and OFDA continued its assistance for DRR strategic policy issues as related to the capacity strengthening programs through a desert locust situation in 10 (ten) cooperative agreement with FAO to northern and Sahel West African mitigate, prevent, and respond to and countries. The advisor was pleased with reduce the risk of ETOP emergencies and the rigor colleagues in Sahel West avoid unsafe use and mishandling of Africa and North Africa demonstrated in pesticides, pesticide-incorporated materials planning and developing preventive and application platforms. interventions as well as in emergency responses. CLCPRO colleagues and OFDA’s assistance for obsolete pesticide member-country representatives prevention has enabled FAO to develop a presented