The Ministry of Agriculture has since passed out information warning the entire populace to stock enough food. However, the warning might have come in late as many people are likely to have already sold off a number of crops harvested in the recent farming season. Uganda last experienced a major locust invasion in 1961, with immense damage on crops which resulted in acute hunger.
Denis Ocira, the Kitgum District Agricultural Officer confirmed to URN this afternoon that the discovery of the locust raises concerns of a looming danger to food security in the district.
The chemicals were loaded and airlifted this morning from Kololo airstrip, by Ministry of Agriculture and Uganda Peoples Defence Forces-UPDF personnel to combat the deadly weevils which have already destroyed hundreds of acres of vegetation, specifically in Okorikeya and Loro villages.
Government has listed three chemicals to use in the spray against the desert locusts. They include Fenitrothion 96 per cent low volume formulation, which is a phosphorothioate insecticide. Others are Malathion which is an organophosphate insecticide. This is commonly used to control mosquitoes and a variety of insects that attack fruits, vegetables, landscaping plants, and shrubs as well as Pyrethroid insecticides.
