This archive report was first published on 11 January 2020.
Kenya is facing a severe locust invasion, with the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) warning of a high risk of additional swarms arriving from Ethiopia and Somalia.
Published on January 11, 2020, the FAO's Desert Locusts bulletin highlighted the alarming situation, stating that the invasion is the worst in 25 years and threatens pastures and crops on both sides of the Red Sea.
The FAO estimated the cost of eliminating locusts at over Sh40 billion in one invasion and harvest losses at more than Sh200 billion, posing a disastrous effect on Africa's food security.
Desert Locusts Control Organisation for Eastern Africa (DLCO) states that the insects live for up to 10 months and can consume about their own weight of fresh vegetation each day.
Prof Alice Kamau, the Director of African Institute for Capacity Development (AICAD), emphasized the importance of controlling locusts at the hopper stage, as once they become adults, they are hard to control and can migrate quickly.
Interestingly, the Desert Locust Information Service (DLIS) suggests that locusts can be eaten, as they are high in protein and edible in different ways. A locust delicacy called Tinjiya or Sikonyane is common among the Tswana and the Swazi people of southern Africa.
Research by Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and the United States Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service (USDA/ARS) in 2015 found that eating desert locusts could be good for the heart, as they contain a rich composition of compounds known as sterols with cholesterol-lowering properties.
