WINDHOEK, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The Namibian government has issued a warning to farmers in the country's northern regions about the presence of African migratory red locusts, which have been spotted in the area and are causing significant damage to maize crops.
Farmers in Zambezi Region and Ohangwena Region should be vigilant and report any locust sightings promptly, Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata, executive director of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, said in a statement issued Monday.
As of Feb. 29, the destructive locusts have been sighted in Zambezi Region, particularly at Lake Liambezi and old Masokotwani, wreaking havoc on maize crops, she said.
The locusts, currently in the hopper and flying stages, have already destroyed about 10 hectares of farmland, she added. The ministry has deployed officials to monitor the situation and is advising farmers to cooperate with spraying campaigns to control the locusts' spread.
This outbreak is the latest in a series of pest invasions that have affected communities in several regions of Namibia, threatening food security and livelihoods. ■