Locust Invasion - Djibouti

2 years ago by Onyari Nyakundi. PhD

1. What about the crop shortfall? Can it be measured? Provide numbers and assessments

Djibouti remains one of the East African countries that have been hard hit by the locust pandemic. Desert locust infestations have negatively impacted small scale agriculture and the lives of pastoralist communities as large swarms of locusts continue to devour crops and pastures across the territory further putting the developing country at risk of experiencing food insecurity. The desert locusts have invaded farms in major agricultural areas in Djibouti such as Obock, Arta, and Tadjourah, Djibouti City among other areas. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization’s technical team finding, these deserts have led to serious destruction of crops and pastures. For instance, as of December 2019, the government of Djibouti reported 100% destruction of vegetable crops and forage in Dikhil regions and Ali-Sabieh regions.

The government of Djibouti reports that as of February 2020, 80% of agro-pastoral farms in 23 production farms in Djibouti had been infested by locusts leading to heavy crop losses. Noteworthy, nearly, 5,000 hectares of agricultural farms in Djibouti had been infected by the desert locusts as of February this year. The government of Djibouti and Food and Agriculture organization continues to warn of unprecedented food shortages in Djibouti due to crop shortfall. As at June this years, as a result of the locust invasions, more than 20,000 hectares of agricultural land had been attacked and destroyed by the pandemic. The locusts have so far attacked vegetables, fruits, and forages which largely constitute the country's export.

The government reports that already more than 28% of the Djibouti population are facing acute food shortages due to the massive destruction of staple foods by the desert locusts. In the Obock region, more than 12,000  households have been directly affected by the locust pandemic while in the Arta region of Djibouti, more than 18,000 families have been directly affected after the desert locusts attacked their farms leading to severe loses. The government records that 20-30% crop shortfalls are expected in the Northern region, Southern region, as well as Dikhil regions with regional crop destruction of thousands of hectares, reported.  In the Dikhil region such as As-Eyla and Mouloud areas, over 60 % of the residents have been forced to relocate to other areas in search of greener pasture after the desert locusts severely consumed the grass that was meant for their livestock. According to Aicha Mohammed, an original inhabitant of the Dikhil region, he was forced to relocate to the Tadjourah region in search of pasture for his cattle. He however still fears for his animals after a swarm of locust did similarly invade the region that he had relocated to.

How the key players have reacted to the plaque. What has been discussed and who profits from the development?

Several state and non-state actors continue to play a pivotal role in as far as mitigating the risks of locust invasion is concerned. In Djibouti, the government of Djibouti through its Agriculture Ministry has adopted a multi-phased approach in an attempt to mitigate the effect of the pandemic. The government continues to carry out grand control operations with supply of biopesticides and equipment, enhanced ground surveillance, training of personnel on locust control mechanisms among other measures. The government of Djibouti has also enhanced coordination and early warning preparedness including training of the locals and other personnel on strategies to manage the locusts. The government continues to develop closer partnerships with other non-state actors such as the Food and Agriculture Organization in an attempt to control the menace,

In collaboration with the Desert Locust Organization, the government of Djibouti has carried out a regional mapping of the pandemic. For instance,   by the end of May; the government of Djibouti had mapped out both Dikhil regions and Ali-Sabieh regions as some of the regions that have been highly infested by the pandemic. According to Mohammed Ahmed Awaleh, Djibouti agriculture minister, the government continues to increase ground and aerial surveillance of the situation and map out regions that are hard hit. Food and Agriculture Organization, an UN-based agency continues to play a pivotal role in as far as the war against the locust invasion is concerned. This agency has been at the forefront of the mobilization of funds aimed at solving the crisis. As at the end of January, FAO had already mobilized over $15.4 million to aid East African countries such as Djibouti that have been hard hit by the pandemic. FAO has similarly maintained surveillance across the region and facilitated the spraying of pesticides.

Figure 1: A file photo of locust devouring plantations in Tadjourah, Djibouti: Photo Credit. North Africa Post

International financial institutions such as the World Bank have also reacted to the pandemic by providing financial assistance to the government of Djibouti and even FAO in an attempt to enhance locust management operations. In May 2020 for instance, the World Bank provided over $6.6 million to help the government of Djibouti to respond to the pandemic. The funding has so far complemented the government of Djibouti’s efforts to improve Desert locust surveillance and other control measures including spraying of pesticides.

3. Which measures have been discussed/taken on the local levels, on the political level of the government, and by international NGOs?

Several entities continue to put forth divergent measures in response to this pandemic. The government of Djibouti continues to enhance her state of preparedness through donor funding and even her allocated emergency funds. According to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock, the government through her emergency fund as at May had purchased over 5500 liters of pesticides to help in spraying of the locusts in the hardest-hit areas such as Obock, Arta, Tadjourah, Djibouti City areas. Similarly, the government has set aside planes to facilitate aerial spraying of pesticides. The minister notes that the government continues to maintain closer surveillance and monitoring of the situation and mapped over 1000 agricultural farms that have so far been highly infested and destroyed by the pandemic.

Food and Agriculture Organization has similarly been at the forefront in helping mitigate the risks of this pandemic. FAO has incorporated a blend of surveillance and control coupled with the spraying of pesticides in hard-hit areas across Djibouti. According to FAO representative to Djibouti, the agency despite logistical and financial challenges has already mapped the country and continues to enhance ground surveillance for early detection of the locusts. Arta area is one of the places that the agency has played a very critical role in as far as limiting the risks of the pandemic is concerned.

Figure 2: A file photo of trained personnel spraying pesticides in the Dikhil region in May. Photo credit: Food and Agriculture Organization

The African Development Bank and the World Bank are part of the International Financial Institutions that continue to provide financial assistance to Djibouti to help the country control and manage the situation. On May 21st, 2020, the World Bank did approve a 6 million dollar funding to the government of Djibouti to help her not only control the pandemic but also to help mitigate the impacts of the pandemic to human health and the environment at large. The funding also focused on restoring the livelihoods of the pastoralist communities that have been severely affected by the pandemic. These funding have complemented government efforts to contain the worsening situation. Similarly, the African Development Bank in April this year did approve $1.5 million to nine countries that have so far been affected by the pandemic. Djibouti is one of the beneficiaries of this relief grant.

At the local level, locals have opted to use very unconventional means to manage the pandemic. In the Ali-Sabieh region, for instance, the locals have opted to beat drums and clang utensils in an attempt to chase away the locust that continues to devour their crops leaving them at the risk of food insecurity. According to Soumeya, a resident,  he notes that apart from the beating of drums, they have also opted for spiritual intervention through prayers in an attempt to manage the situation.

4. Are there any compensation payment funds or subsidies? If so who provides them and how is the aid-financed?

As the effects of the pandemic continue to surge, there have been calls by the general public for the government and other key players to compensate the individuals whose farms have been destroyed by the locust pandemic. With the government estimation that more than 29% of the total population is currently in dire need for food due to the infestation, the Djibouti government has already designed a compensation plan which is yet to be implemented.

According to Mohammed Ahmed Awaleh, the minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock, the Djibouti government top priority is to help affected pastoralist communities to satisfy their basic needs and to rehabilitate food production and livelihood systems to safeguard the lives of the Djiboutians. As such, the government of Ethiopia is looking forward to spending part of the $6 million to provide emergency income to the most vulnerable communities or households across Djibouti. The minister maintains that the government has set up the National de Solidarite Famile (NSF), a cash transfer program of the Ministry of Social Services and Solidarity aimed at supporting the vulnerable communities. The Programme National de Solidarite Famile will help compensate farmers who are hard hit by the pandemic and help them restart their economic activities that have currently been destabilized by the pandemic. The government of Djibouti maintains that addressing the needs of the population is their top priority and is in the process of compensating the vulnerable through her established program termed, Programme National de Solidarite Famile. As part of her compensation program, the Djibouti government is considering procuring and distributing seeds to replenish the destroyed crops as well as the provision of other agricultural inputs.

5. What are the financial effects of the GDP, national budget, and national debts?

The pandemic has severely hit the Djibouti economy. The government continues to record heavy financial losses due to the pandemic and this is likely to affect her economic stability. For instance, the Djibouti government notes that as of late February 2020, the locusts had caused losses estimated at $5 million in six regions that have been severely affected by the pandemic (Arta, Dikhil, Ali-Sabieh, Tadjourah, Obock, and the Djibouti-City Suburb Areas). With over 70% of the Djibouti population engaged in agro-pastoral activities, the locust invasion remains a serious concern to the country's Gross Domestic Product. Agro pastoralism remains Djibouti's backbone of the economy. The government for instance has reported 100% losses in agricultural production in areas such as Ali Sabieh and Dikhil regions. Similarly; over 80% of the 1,700 agro-pastoral farms in 23 production sites have been destroyed. This according to the government is likely to reduce the country’s export income as well as the national income hence affecting the budget. The country is a global exporter of vegetables, cereals, hides, and skins as well as coffee. The locust pandemic is likely to reduce the country’s annual export income estimated at $155million.

In her attempt to battle the pandemic, Djibouti has also sought financial assistance in the form of loans from other international partners. Through the international appeal, Djibouti did receive over $ 6 million in grants and low-interest loans from the World Bank to enhance her level of preparedness to the pandemic. This has increased the country's debt ceiling and coupled with the anticipated reduction in export income, the government may not be most likely to service her loans. Similarly, the redirecting of national resources to the war against the Locust pandemic is likely to negatively affect the country's national growth and development, especially in the infrastructural sector