Desert locust attack in Abu Dhabi controlled

Abu Dhabi - 125 engineers and 144 workers participated in control operation.

The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) surveyed 200,967 donums to monitor and track the migration of desert locusts across border regions adjacent to the UAE during 2020.

ADAFSA’s control teams sprayed about 85,948 donums of infested regions using the recommended pesticides, to reduce desert locust’s impact on crops and production.

For nearly two-and-a-half months, ADAFSA’s control teams continued efforts in controlling desert locusts since spotting it in Dalma Island’s farms, on February 22, 2020. This put ADAFSA on high alert to combat any swarms coming from locust breeding areas in the Arabian Peninsula and the Red Sea coasts.

Groups of locusts have been detected entering several areas in Al Dhafra (Al-Sila - Ras Mushaireb - Ras Ghamis), Ghayathi (Al Nazrah), and Ghweifat (the border strip with KSA). Meanwhile, control teams also monitored locusts’ first existence in Al Ain region (border strip with the Sultanate of Oman - Umm Zmul - Al-Dhahirah - Al-Arad - Al-Wagan - Al-Awya - Al-Qou` - Boukariya - Al-Ain Al-Faida). In addition to controlling locusts in the western regions (As-Salamat - Siraa - Al-Anka - Al-Dumtha- Sweihan), ADAFSA’s teams also surveyed the northern areas (Umm Ghafa - Al-Hayer - Masaken - Al-Shuwaib).

According to the desert locust situation report 2020, about 107,285 donums were surveyed in Al Ain, accounting for 53.4 per cent ​​of the total surveyed area at the emirate level, while control operations covered 73,930 donums, 86 per cent of the total area on which locusts were combated. Meanwhile, about 83,439 donums were surveyed in Al Dhafra region (41.5 per cent), and locusts were controlled in 74.27 donums (8.6%). For Abu Dhabi regions, the total surveyed area reached 5.1 per cent, while areas witnessed control operations represented 5.4%.

Additionally, 125 engineers and 144 workers participated in control operations, while 72 vehicles used in spraying locusts. Aside from the pre-emptive survey, ADAFSA received 1,813 reports from farm owners to provide assistance in controlling locusts, including 1,618 reports from Al Ain farms, 126 reports from Al Dhafra farms, and 69 reports from Abu Dhabi farms.

In this regard, Mubarak Ali Al Qusaili Al Mansouri, Executive Director of Agricultural Affairs Sector at ADAFSA, said, "Upon the migration of locusts from breeding areas on the coast of the Red Sea, ADAFSA tracked swarms movement to control their spread. Therefore, ADAFSA has coordinated with various government entities to reduce desert locust’s impact on crops and production."

Al Mansouri noted that ADAFSA is just responsible for combating locusts in farm areas, especially across border regions, while Abu Dhabi municipalities conduct control operations in forests and other areas.