Photo taken by Lanstrand resident, Neil Kriel

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has launched response measures following a desert locust outbreak detected in parts of the Erongo and Hardap regions.

In the Erongo region, locusts were identified in Homeb within the Walvis Bay Rural Constituency, near the Gobabeb Research Centre. The outbreak was also reported in the Daweb Constituency in the Hardap region, where an estimated 300 to 400 square kilometres are believed to be affected. According to ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda, response teams equipped with vehicle-mounted sprayers have already been dispatched to affected areas in an effort to contain the spread before significant damage occurs.

Muyunda said the ministry is also working closely with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism to ensure that all necessary environmental protocols are followed, particularly as parts of the outbreak area fall within the protected Namib-Naukluft National Park “The teams are on the ground conducting spraying operations and monitoring the affected areas to halt the spread of the locusts,” he explained.

The ministry has urged farmers, residents and members of the public across the Erongo and other affected regions to remain vigilant and report any locust sightings immediately to their nearest Directorate of Agriculture. Authorities warned that swift reporting and coordinated action are critical to preventing widespread damage to grazing areas, crops and vegetation, especially in vulnerable rural communities already facing environmental and economic pressures. The ministry said surveillance efforts will continue in both regions as officials work to bring the outbreak under control. According to residents, Langstrand has been plagued by locust for at least two months. The damage these insects cause can clearly be seen on the photo.

By Eileen van der Schyff