Question NW954 to the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
27 March 2023 - NW954
Cebekhulu, Inkosi RN to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
Whether her department has taken any urgent steps to minimise the threat posed by locust outbreaks which according to Agri SA affected 23 million hectares of land, of which 90% was agricultural land, during the 2021-22 season, and noting that outbreaks have already been witnessed in the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, and Western Cape with weather forecasts for some regions indicating that there will be above-average rainfall which heightens the risk of devastating swarms developing; if not, why not; if so, (a) what are the relevant details and (b) on what date will the locust officer’s contracts be finalised?
Reply:
Yes.
a) Details are as follows:
- 400 000 litres of insecticide have been procured for effective and efficient control of the locust outbreak;
- Locust control officers have been appointed in all locust outbreak areas to be on standby to control the locust outbreak if it occurs;
- Personal protective equipment has been procured for the control officers controlling the locust outbreak;
- Locust spray equipment has been procured; and
- The National Bid Adjudication Committee of Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) has approved the appointment of a locust aerial spraying service provider to be on standby to complement the locust control officers on the ground and the contract is in the process of being signed with the service provider.
b) The locust officer’s contracts have been finalised. Locust officers are appointed in all locust outbreak areas.