Ref: WB/XW/admin/ F- / /2014 Date: 01, 03, 2014
RE: PRESS RELEASE
The Somaliland Ministry of Agriculture has in the past made several announcements on the current locust infestation affecting Red Sea coastal areas in Somaliland and which adversely affected several regions in country most notably Salal ,Awdal ,Sahil and Sanaag regions.
The locust infestation has affected and caused devastation to many pastoral lands mainly in plains namely the Giriyaad, Lughaya, Abdigeedi, Eeldarad, and Goobaare plains and the larvae left behind by locust ,army worms, have now began infesting into neighboring Ethiopia and Djibouti.
Many livestock are currently located in those areas and it’s not sagacious to use pesticides such as “MALATHION” because of the risk related with the poisonous substance cannot be sprayed without running the risk of poisoning animals, as well as the local population.
The Ministry of Agriculture therefore strongly urges the local population to refrain from hastily using the poisonous substance due to the dangers they pose to the livestock, local population but should be used through technical means.
The Agriculture Ministry is currently spraying the insects in those areas using chemicals that are not anyway harmful neither pose danger to both animals and Human beings and are effective in curbing the infestation.
The Ministry of Agriculture has in the past and will also in the future work in partnership with the FAO and DLC in the fight against the scourge.
Somaliland Minister of Agriculture
Prof. Farah Elmi Mahmoud
Tell: 520637, Mobile: 4240042 ministerfarah@hotmail.com
Institute a government subsidized program to plant neem trees on the edges of agricultural fields. It will discourage pests, including the kwelli kwelli birds (weaver birds) that sometimes swarm in the good years. The locusts seem never to give up. Thousands of years of swarming according to the winds, the monsoon winds. But the Ministry is right about poisonous pesticides. More harm than good. Use neem leaves between sacks of agricultural product in warehouse storage. Keeps the bugs away. Neem tea is healthy and neem can also be used in toothpaste. Should be part of any agriculture project in Somali territories.
Definitely is damaging the crops, but the pesticides is ever more dangerous it harm the soil and crops.
I don't understand why people hold a negative opinion about locus.Granted it causes havoc in plants especially crops grasslands.. But listen locus has benefits also. it is organic and can be used as fertilizer by drying it . It can be used as an animal feed or human food for that matter as UN recommends. People look for the positive side.