Small Scale Farmers Development Agency (SAFADA) has applauded government for taking measures to control the Migratory Red Locusts in some parts of the country.
Speaking in an interview with Money FM News, Organization Executive Director Boyd Moobwe said this is what is expected from government because whenever there is a calamity, it is the state’s obligation to intervene.
Mr. Moobwe stated that if government had not come in to control the situation, huge chunks of farm land would have been affected.
“We commend the government, that is what we expect from the government, when there is a crisis of some sort, its government’s obligation to intervene and help the society.”
“In this case, we are pleased that government has taken measures to control the outbreak of locusts,” Mr. Moobwe said.
He further commended government for the quick intervention, which he says will prevent the locusts from migrating to other areas.
“If government had not come in, the farm lands were going to be affected. So I think the intervention is quite good because we have not heard any complaints from neighboring provinces of the locusts migrating to their areas.”
“They should put in place other measures to make sure that such does not reoccur or migrate to other areas,” he added.
Government has so far sprayed about 10,000 hectares of land as part of efforts to control the African Migratory Locusts which have broken out in some provinces.
Agriculture Minister Michael Katambo disclosed this week that the chemicals being sprayed have proved to be effective and shown to reduce the locust population by between 85 to 95 percent.