Fortune News | Mar 11,2023
June is the month that ushers in the rainy season in Ethiopia. This year, rain is not the only thing it brought. The feared desert locust invasion followed the rainy season and has been devastating farmers in a large area of the country. The first swarm entered Ethiopia in June 2019 after crossing from Yemen and Somalia. It has been reported in 56 districts across Ethiopia, including in the Oromia, Amhara, Somali, Afar and Tigray regional states and the federal city of Dire Dawa. The desert locusts have covered more than 351 square kilometres and are consuming at least 1.7 billion kilograms of green vegetation a day, according to the November report by the Ministry of Agriculture.
Desert locust infestation is not new to Ethiopia.
From the 480 square kilometres of farmland in the 56 districts that were hit by the desert locust invasion, the authorities were able to control the infestation on only 220 square kilometres between August and October, according to data from the UN's Food & Agriculture Organization.
The first swarm entered Ethiopia in June 2019 after crossing from Yemen and Somalia.
Desert locust infestation is not new to Ethiopia. On average they invade once every three years. This has been a significant drawback to the agriculture sector, which contributes around 34pc to gross domestic product (GDP) and employs two-thirds of the adult population. Efforts to bring the problem under control, traditional as well as modern methods, have had only limited impact. The regional states and the local agriculture bureaus are using three airplanes to spray chemicals that kill the pests. They are clearly outmatched, and with the swarm expected to continue until next June, the outlook is gloomy.
You can read the full story here
PUBLISHED ON
Nov 16,2019 [ VOL
20 , NO
1020]
Fortune News | Mar 11,2023
Viewpoints | Apr 02,2022
Commentaries | Mar 28,2020
View From Arada | Dec 26,2020
Radar | Jan 27,2024
Commentaries | Dec 05,2018
News Analysis | Mar 04,2023
Commentaries | Mar 21,2020
Feb 24 , 2024 . By MUNIR SHEMSU
Abel Yeshitila, a real estate developer with a 12-year track record, finds himself unable to sell homes in his latest venture. Despite slash...
Feb 10 , 2024 . By MUNIR SHEMSU
In his last week's address to Parliament, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) painted a picture of an economy...
Jan 7 , 2024
In the realm of international finance and diplomacy, few cities hold the distinction that Addis Abeba doe...
Sep 30 , 2023 . By AKSAH ITALO
On a chilly morning outside Ke'Geberew Market, Yeshi Chane, a 35-year-old mother cradling her seven-month-old baby, stands amidst the throng...
Mar 23 , 2024
Addis Abeba has been experiencing rapid expansion over the past two decades. While se...
Mar 16 , 2024
In a striking move that has rattled the corridors of Ethiopia's export sector, the Mi...
Mar 9 , 2024
Mamo Mehiretu's tenure at the central bank's helm is marked by a distinct shift in fo...
Mar 1 , 2024
In the corridors of the Ministry of Finance, on King George IV St., a recent visit by...