AFRICAN MIGRATORY LOCUST APP TO ENHANCE EARLY WARNING
GOVERNMENT has developed a data collection application tool meant to detect the African Migratory Locust.
Principal Early Warning and Preparedness Officer under DMMU, Likezo Musobani says the app has been developed with support from the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO), Government through Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit(DMMU) in conjunction with Ministry of Agriculture
Mr Musobani explained that the app will be used by field agriculture extension officers to record presence of locusts in all parts of the country being affected by the pest.
The relevant information that will be uploaded on the app will help Government and its partners to respond, mitigate and prevent locust from becoming a disaster.
“Last year the information which was coming through was scanty making it difficult to aggregate and plan control actions based on that information,” Mr Musobani said.
Mr Musobani notes that in responding to disaster timely information is critical. He highlights that the app will enhance early warning system in the fight against the locust.
He observes that it is much cheaper to avert a disaster than addressing it and the only way of averting disaster is to provide timely information which will aid in planning.
Mr Musobani describes the AML early warning database tool as not complicated and is internet less intensive tool which can run a computer or an android phone and tablet.
“The officer will only need to use internet at the point of downloading the app and when sending back the data to the saver. once they have it on the gadget they can feed in formation without using internet,” he said
Mr Musobani further said the tool will change the way the unit receive information on the pest that can cause disaster and help in the early warning aspect of disaster management.
He notes that DMMU has shifted from being reactive to being proactive because it is costly to respond to a disaster than averting it.
Different Agricultural extension officers from Locust Affected districts had an opportunity to pretest the application and get orientation during the Locust management training which was sponsored by FAO recently in western province.
The officers appreciate the app that it will heighten real time information sharing and make it easy for communities to receive needed timely support.