Posted Sep 15, 2009
Chief Scientist Dr Elliot Zitsanza told ZANIS in an interview today, that a survey conducted in some parts of Namwala and Itezhi Tezhi districts so far indicates no outbreak to warrant spraying.
Dr. Zitsanza said the team observed low population of the red locust in the Kafue flats which do not pose any threat of an outbreak.
“We have observed low population of the red locust in the Kafue flats which does not pose any threats for us to embark on a spraying exercise,” Dr Zitsanza said.
Dr Zitsanza explained that the team has so far conducted surveys in the Zambezi River Basin in Kazungula District.
Red locusts have permanent breeding areas known as outbreak areas and in Zambia areas such as the Kafue flats, Mweru-Wantipa, the Zambezi river basin and Lukanga swamps are recognized as breeding grounds for Red locust There are eight recognized outbreak areas in East, Central and Southern Africa where IRLCO-CSA in collaboration with members states conducts surveys and control operations in outbreaks areas regularly to prevent the occurrence of a plague in the region It is these areas with favourable ecological conditions that Red locusts multiply rapidly and form large swarms which sometimes escape to invade farmlands.