Early Warning Preparedness
The preventative approach to desert locust management will focus on predicting the likelihood of cross-border invasions and in-country spread as determined through weather and ecological conditions that could favour breeding, development and migration of the pest. Appropriate and timely data will be collected on key parameters such as rainfall, temperature, humidity, soils, wind and vegetation. The data will be processed and communicated routinely for use in desert locust early warning and forecasting systems to support short-term responses and long-term adaptation planning by the LCU, national partners, regional and international bodies.
The long-term adaptation planning will assist in the identification and mapping of desert locust breeding habitats and potential outbreak areas in the project implementing counties. With properly synthesized early warning information, the country will activate the necessary procedures to acquire appropriate desert locust management and control materials including biopesticides, synthetic insecticides, spraying equipment, PPEs and strategic personnel.
Training will be conducted by desert locust experts drawn from national, regional and international institutions, universities and desert locust master trainers. The targeted trainees will include technical staff from county to ward level, youths/frontiers engaged in the project and community/opinion leaders. The content for training will focus on overall desert locust management, which will be delivered in both theory and practical sessions. The training venues will be at Locust control base, county, sub-county and ward levels. Subject matter training will also be conducted at regional and international levels.
Successful management of current and future desert locust outbreak/invasions will be highly dependent on effective communication of the robust information generated from surveillance and early warning activities in the project. This calls for establishment of communication systems linking community/ward, county, national, regional and international levels. The systems will ensure that vital information such as imminent desert locust invasions, outbreaks and appropriate control measures is conveyed appropriately to relevant actors.
Towards this end, communication materials on desert locust preparedness such as brochures, fliers, posters, pocket booklets will be developed by MITT and LCC. These materials will be distributed in hard copies or electronic format. Information on desert locust development will be disseminated through workshops at county, national regional and international levels, while meetings/public gatherings will be used to engage the communities. Other communication channels such as vernacular radio stations, television, newspaper articles, notices, publications, ministry websites and presentations in scientific conferences will be used for mass communication on desert locusts. For effective delivery of desert locust information and community mobilization, communication equipment such Public address system (PAS) will be procured at LCU and county level.
The contingency plan will guide the country to be in a position to perform a self-reliant Desert Locust Management system. The LCU will oversee the country, conduct effective surveillance, early control operations and ensure operational information management system is put in place, besides maintaining an updated inventory of stocks, equipment and personnel.