Food security: Somalia joins UN FAO’s Desert Locust Control Commission
In this photo taken Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020, young desert locusts that have not yet grown wings jump in the air as they are approached, as a visiting delegation from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) observes them, in the desert near Garowe, in the semi-autonomous Puntland region of Somalia. The desert locusts in this arid patch of northern Somalia look less ominous than the billion-member swarms infesting East Africa, but the hopping young locusts are the next wave in the outbreak that threatens more than 10 million people across the region with a severe hunger crisis. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
In a significant move aimed at fortifying regional efforts to combat the threat of desert locusts, Somalia officially became the 17th member of the Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Central Region under the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The development was announced on Wednesday, marking a crucial step in the country’s commitment to addressing the challenge of locust infestations.
The FAO acknowledged Somalia’s commendable progress since 2020 in building both national institutional and technical capacities for effective locust control. With support from the UN food agency and collaborative efforts with partners, Somalia has actively worked towards mitigating the impact of desert locusts on its agriculture and food security.
Shoki AlDobai, the team leader for FAO’s Locusts and other Transboundary Plant Pests and Diseases, emphasized the strategic significance of Somalia’s inclusion in the commission.
AlDobai stated, “Somalia is a key breeding country for locusts, and having it in the Commission will benefit not only Somalia but neighboring countries as well by reinforcing the monitoring and early warning in the region.”
Expressing pride in welcoming Somalia to the Commission, AlDobai highlighted the importance of integrating the country into this regional coordination body. He emphasized that Somalia’s membership would sustain the level of preparedness and achievements made in the past years in the fight against locust invasions.
According to FAO, Somalia’s geographical location, historical experience in locust control, and contributions to the Commission make it a pivotal player in combating locusts in the Horn of Africa.
The country’s membership in the Commission is considered a strategic step that will enhance locust control efforts in the region.
Ahmed Madobe Nunow, the Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation of Somalia, underscored the government’s commitment to collaborative action with other member states.
He stated, “Somalia is pleased to become a State Party to this important agreement for the establishment of this Commission,” expressing the determination to work jointly to control desert locusts in the Central Region and mitigate their devastating effects on agriculture and food security.
