Zambia to host international red locust organisation headquarters

By Wallace Mawire [caption id="attachment_29485" align="alignleft" width="300"] Agriculture Minister Joseph Made[/caption] The International red locust Organisation for Central and Southern Africa (IRLCO-CSA) headquarters being constructed in Ndola, Zambia with the assistance of the country’s government is nearing completion and is expected to be ready for occupation before the end of 2016, according to Dr Joseph Made, Zimbabwe’s minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development. Made gave an update on progress on construction of the centre at the recent official opening of the 38th regular session of the governing council of ministers of the IRLCO-CSA hosted by Zimbabwe in April 2016. IRLCO-CSA’s responsibility involves managing and controlling red locusts at its breeding sites in Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia. This is expected to contribute towards food security in the two sub-regions. Apart from red locust management, IRLCO-CSA also works very closely with member states technical staff in the continuous surveillance, coordination, data collection, synthesis and feedback on activities of other migratory pests such as armyworm, quelea and the African migratory locust. The organisation carries out applied research developing environmentally friendly methods of controlling migratory pests and the related training given to agricultural staff, especially at locust breeding sites. “I am made to understand that good progress has been made and that part of the facility would be ready for occupation before the end of 2016,” Made said. Made said that when complete, the facility under construction in Zambia will enhance research capability of the organisation, offer related training and is expected to be the centre of excellence for management of migratory pests in the central, eastern and southern African sub-regions. Made thanked developmental partners whom he said from time to time had rendered various forms of assistance to the organisation. “Honourable ministers, the red locust plague which occurred between 1930 and 1944 invaded many countries south of the equator in Africa. That vulnerability to a potential locust plague still lurks in the background, meaning we cannot let down our guard, but continue to support our organisation,” Made said.