Agri Eastern Cape (EC) was notified on the 22 March 2022, that the two helicopters currently spraying the locust swarms have been grounded upon the instructions of Dr I.B. Kgakatsi (Director of Disaster Management & Climate Change Directorate, DALRRD).
The rationale for this decision cannot be understood given the fact that we are currently experiencing the largest outbreak recorded. There has been no communication with the control teams on the ground, including the relevant role players, regarding this decision taken. Although we understand that Sumi Alpha is in short supply, there is still currently enough to spray up to 2000ha.
Many of the affected farmers have just come through a seven-year drought and are now having the first available fodder in years eaten up by locusts. The continued aerial spraying in the areas with available poison has been deemed, by those in control on the ground, as the best option at the moment.
It is the view of Agri EC that the entire handling of this current, and previous, locust outbreak has been poorly managed by the Department of Agriculture (DALRRD), under the leadership of Dr Kgakasti. Organised Agriculture has done everything in their power to assist where we can, but this has been hampered by poor resource management and communication from Dr Kgakasti.
As such we are calling for the immediate resumption of aerial spraying activities and clarity on exactly what the issue is with further pesticide procurement and where Organised Agriculture can assist the Department. If Dr Kgakasti is going to continue working against the affected role players, who are trying to assist the Department, then he needs to be removed from his current position and placed somewhere, were poor decision making is not going to affect food security within South Africa.
The Head of Department and Minister need to take ownership of this problem and urgently intervene to ensure that management and coordination of resources at ground level is better handled and organised.
