Abu Dhabi exterminates locust swarm and says it is ready to confront any threat from the insects
The UAE is taking precautions to protect its farms against locusts seen in parts of Saudi Arabia and Yemen this month.
Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority on Tuesday said it surveyed 600 hectares of farmland on Dalma Island and used pesticides to exterminate small gatherings of locusts.
The authority said it had raised its level of preparedness to “confront any desert locust swarms coming from the breeding areas in the Arabian Peninsula and the Red Sea coasts”.
It said teams would continue to monitor agricultural areas in Abu Dhabi, particularly on the border with Saudi Arabia where some locust swarms have been reported. Dr Mohammed Al Hammadi, acting director of communication and community service, said the authority was working closely with an international body that monitors locust movements to ensure swift action and reduce potential crop losses. “We received some complaints that small groups of desert locust were gathering in an agricultural area near the coast of Dalma Island,” said Dr Al Hammadi. He said the complaint was dealt with promptly. “The locust numbers were controlled without causing any significant damage to the crops.”
Dr Al Hammadi said the authority would work with farmers to keep them informed about any locust movements and encourage them to report any issues. He urged farmers not to burn farm waste or start fires to smoke out the insects.
He also warned against collecting or eating the locusts, to avoid health risks.
A devastating outbreak of locusts is spreading across East Africa, threatening millions of people with hunger.
Locusts destroyed crops in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya and have now made their way to Sudan. These are places that are already extremely vulnerable to famine.