The Africa Emergency Locust Project (AELP), Gambia office and the Agricultural Pest Management Unit (APMU) of the Department of State for Agriculture (DoSA) have issued a stern warning to Gambian farmers that the just released FAO Monthly Bulletin on the locust situation in Central Region is potentially dangerous and if the situation is not put under control, swarms may invade the Western Region, of which the Gambia is inclusive, during the summer.

According to reports released yesterday by the Africa Emergency Locust Project (AELP) Gambia office, signed by Sheikh Tijan GE Sosseh, acting Project Coordinator, the FAO monthly Desert Locust Bulletin indicates that the monthly locust situation in the Central Region is potentially dangerous and control interventions are being undertaken as if the situation is not put under control, swarms may invade the Western Region during the summer of 2007.

The report further stated that The Gambia, being part of the Western Region, has no locust presence but the Regional Locust Teams have been put under full alert. “The Regional Offices are functional and teams are provided with motorcycles for scouting, vehicles mounted with sprayers and adequate quantities of pesticides and portable control equipment to be able to rapidly respond to any locust or pest infestations”, the report noted.

Furthermore, the report added that the spray aircraft provided by President Yahya Jammeh, the Gambian leader, has also been put on stand-by at the Banjul International Airport with enough aviation fuel for any imminent intervention and that there is no cause for fear.

“Farmers are therefore warned now to report their pest problems to the nearest agricultural stations or workers in their regions or contact the Africa Emergency Locust Project on 4397903 or 4397906 or 7036451 or the Agricultural Pest Management Unit on 4472758 or 7786623 or 9988799 within the Greater Banjul Area.
In the Western Region, farmers can call 9822531 or 9822529 or 7711364; North Bank Region on 9822533; Central River Region North, farmers can report to the Kuntaur or Wassu Agricultural Station; Central River Region South, call 9904034 or report to the Sapu Agricultural Station; Upper River Region, farmers can report to the Basse Agricultural Station or call 9924707; Lower River Region, farmers can report to Jenoi Agricultural Station or call 9822537 or 9927019 or 993996 and the National Agricultural Development Agency (NADA) on 9966117 or 4495420”.

The report concluded by soliciting the cooperation of the general public in the drive to monitor and control locust and other pest infestations.