'This is huge': Locust swarms destroy crops in East Africa

hum of millions of locusts on move is broken by screams of farmers and clanging of pots and pans. But ir ise-making does little to stop voracious insects from feasting on ir crops in this rural community.

worst outbreak of desert locusts in Kenya in 70 years has seen hundreds of millions of bugs swarm into East African nation from Somalia and Ethiopia. Those two countries have t h an infestation like this in a quarter-century, destroying farmland and threatening an alrey vulnerable region with devastating hunger.

“Even cows are wondering what is happening," said Ndunda Makanga, who spent hours Friday trying to chase locusts from his farm. "Corn, sorghum, cowpeas, y have eaten everything.”

When rains arrive in March and bring new vegetation across much of region, numbers of fast-breeding locusts could grow 500 times before drier wear in June curbs ir spre, United Nations says.

“We must act immediately,” said David Phiri of U.N. Food and Agricultural Organization, as dors huddled in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, a three-hour drive away.

About $70 million is needed to step up aerial pesticide spraying, only effective way to combat m, U.N. says. That won't be easy, especially in Somalia, where parts of country are in grip of al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab extremist group.

rose-colored locusts turn whole trees pink, clinging to branches like quivering ornaments before taking off in hungry, rustling clouds.

Astonished by finger-length insects, children dash here and re, waving blankets or plucking at branches to shake locusts free. One woman, Kanini Ndunda, batted at m with a shovel.

Even a small swarm of insects can consume eugh food for 35,000 people in a single day, said Jens Laerke of U.N. humanitarian office in Geneva.

Farmers are afraid to let ir cattle out for grazing, and ir crops of millet, sorghum and maize are vulnerable, but re is little y can do.

About 70,000 hectares (172,973 acres) of land in Kenya are alrey infested.

“This one, ai! This is huge,” said Kipkoech Tale, a migratory pest control specialist with agriculture ministry. “I’m talking about over 20 swarms that we have sprayed. We still have more. And more are coming.”

A single swarm can contain up to 150 million locusts per square kilometer of farmland, an area size of almost 250 football fields, regional authorities say.

One especially large swarm in rastern Kenya measured 60 kilometers long by 40 kilometers wide (37 miles long by 25 miles wide).

Kenya needs more spraying equipment to supplement four planes w flying, Tale said. Ethiopia also has four.

y also need a stey supply of pesticides, said Francis Kitoo, deputy director of agriculture in souastern Kenya's Kitui county.

“ locals are really scared because y can consume everything,” Kitoo said. “I’ve never seen such a big number.”

locusts eat fodder for animals, a crucial source of livelihood for families who w worry how y will pay for expenses like school fees, he said.

His own concern about locusts?

“y will lay eggs and start ar generation,” he said.

A

Migrating with wind, locusts can cover up to 150 kilometers (93 miles) in a single day. y look like tiny aircraft lazily crisscrossing sky.

y are w heing toward Uganda and fragile South Sudan, where almost half country faces hunger as it emerges from civil war. Uganda has t h such an outbreak since 1960s and is alrey on alert.

locusts also are moving steily toward Ethiopia’s Rift Valley, brebasket for Africa’s second-most populous country, U.N. says.

“ situation is very b but farmers are fighting it in tritional way,” said Buni Orissa, a resident of Ethiopia’s Sidama region. “ locusts love cabb and beans. This may threaten shaky food security in region.”

Even before this outbreak, nearly 20 million people faced high levels of food insecurity across East African region long challenged by periodic droughts and floods.

As exasperated farmers look for more help in fighting one of history's most persistent pests, FAO's

“Although giant nets, flamethrowers, lasers and huge vacuums have been proposed in past, se are t in use for locust control,” U.N. ncy says. “People and birds often eat locusts but usually t eugh to significantly reduce population levels over large areas.”

Still, it offered recipes. One suggested seasoning in Uganda is chopped onion and curry powder. n fry.