Locust plague threatens key crops in Eastern Sudan

October 28, 2024 (AL-FASHQA) – Swarms of locusts from Ethiopia invaded Sudan’s al-Fashqa district on Monday, raising alarm in Gedaref state, the country’s main breadbasket region.

According to witnesses who spoke to Sudan Tribune, the locusts were seen flying at low altitudes and landing on trees and houses. This has sparked fears among farmers in the area, which produces much of Sudan’s sesame, sorghum, groundnuts, and sunflower.

Gedaref state officials say 9.5 million acres of land have been cultivated this season, with 5.5 million acres dedicated to sorghum.

“This locust plague is a serious threat to our maize and millet crops just as they are about to be harvested,” farmer Moawia Osman al-Dhein told Sudan Tribune. He urged the government and the agriculture ministry to take swift action to control the infestation and protect the harvest.

The locust invasion comes on the heels of a fatal plane crash on Saturday. A crop duster collided with a vehicle while attempting to land on a dirt runway in al-Fashqa, killing four agricultural workers and injuring eight others. This incident further complicates efforts to combat the locusts.