Turkana County is now the epicenter of Desert Locusts. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 200 sites in 46,200 ha of land are infested with hopper bands.
Agro-pastoralists from Lolupe in the county who were for the first time trying out farming have also bore the brunt of the locusts. Their 6 acres of sorghum & vegetables were completely wiped out by the desert locusts. This situation FAO says further compounds the threat to food security and nutrition for people and livestock.
FAO has added 3 pickups & 2 aeroplane sprayers, 6 surveillance vehicles and one more helicopter to intensify operations as they fight the locusts.