Crop-spraying aircraft deployed in Upper Nile to sort out pest disaster

Author: Daniel Michael | Published: 23 hours in the past

The spray-plane serves IGAD member states | Photo by Diko D. Andrew

Authorities in Upper Nile State report {that a} regional crop-spraying aircraft, flown in final Monday, has been deployed to deal with pest infestations which have severely impacted farms.

This deployment follows pressing appeals from officers in Melut, Baliet, and Renk Counties, who sought nationwide help to guard crops from pests like rats, locusts, and quelea birds, which have ravaged a whole bunch of 1000’s of acres.

In response, the National Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, via the Emergency Locust Response Project, organized for the aircraft to aerially spray affected areas.

James Basha, Upper Nile’s Agriculture Minister, knowledgeable Eye Radio that the aircraft—often serving IGAD member states—will now deal with combating pest outbreaks throughout the area.

“Thank God, the plane designated for spraying crops from agricultural pests arrived on Saturday in Upper Nile State and will head to Renk to start work. From there, it will head to the remaining 8 districts that the government has identified for the plane to operate,” mentioned Basha.

“This plane will work to combat agricultural pests in 8 districts, namely Fashoda, Mango, Renk, Baliet, Akoka, Makal, Melut and Maban. I would like to inform the farmers that we will save the rest of the agricultural season that was affected by pests”,  he mentioned.

Peter John, a consultant from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the mission’s implementing companion, reaffirmed the company’s dedication to safeguarding crops from pest destruction this 12 months.

“FAO is dedicated to helping the state and nationwide governments in saving this 12 months’s crops from injury because of agricultural pests and enhancing manufacturing on this season and the approaching seasons.

“This help offered by FAO is not going to cease at maize and sesame crops solely but in addition assist farmers in offering meals for the states via the manufacturing of assorted varieties of greens.

The Emergency Locust Response Project (ELRP) is a government-led initiative below the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), supported by numerous companions.

The mission is totally supervised by the federal government via the Single Project Coordination Unit (SPCU).

The FAO is accountable for implementing the agricultural manufacturing part, whereas the UNOPS oversees the Labour-Intensive Public Works (LIPW) part.