Swarms of desert locusts, crossing from Ethiopia, have invaded Sudan’s al-Fashqa district, sparking major concerns in Gedaref state, Sudan’s primary agricultural hub.
Witnesses reported the locusts flying low and landing on trees and rooftops, unsettling local farmers. Gedaref is a critical region for Sudan’s agricultural output, producing significant amounts of sesame, sorghum, groundnuts, and sunflower.
State officials noted that 9.5 million acres have been cultivated this season, with 5.5 million acres dedicated to sorghum alone. Local farmer Moawia Osman al-Dhein expressed his concern to Sudan Tribune, describing the locusts as a severe threat to maize and millet just before harvest. He called on the government and agricultural authorities to intervene quickly to protect the crops.
Efforts to tackle the locusts are further challenged by a recent plane crash in al-Fashqa. On Saturday, a crop-dusting plane collided with a vehicle while attempting to land, resulting in four fatalities and eight injuries among agricultural workers. This tragedy has complicated already strained efforts to address the locust infestation.
