![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/L3ZFW4JCJWAZRKAA42QMUS35VQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=14ed4061ae6f6670892936a13b82829ed9912d08d7ae590691fa4dd3ef767127&width=400&height=225)
A pilot follows a swarm of desert locusts during a surveillance flight as farmers set fires to create smoke in their attempt to chase away the insects from fields in Meru, Kenya. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OHHON4WE22RMDM5V6MXI4SZPEI.jpg?smart=true&auth=50caeb324001133fa8ac75676ed768c12421c12f3a9927ebcac7b85ea0757daa&width=400&height=225)
A farmer walks through a swarm of desert locust in the eastern Kenyan city of Meru. The infestations devastated 23 countries across East Africa, the Middle East and South Asia in 2020, with Kenya suffering its worst locust swarms in 70 years. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KZWUDBTFY7XKQ5NOVD2PLPMZTE.jpg?smart=true&auth=0cf2f2ca5a60aaa186448e4e7bfde788395d6b5cc7d5548eb41d2964e5d5be40&width=400&height=225)
A swarm of desert locusts flies after an aircraft sprayed pesticide in the eastern Kenyan city of Meru. The UN's Food and Agricultural Organisation is working closely with several Kenyan agencies before teams are sent to targeted areas to spray pesticides to prevent damage to crops and grazing areas. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7E6CXVOVX4YUUTDHZVLKPCLLEQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=05817708bb5bc4d28e369267213717dae3c80cd592eaae88bc0d1d2c90409904&width=400&height=225)
Cyril Ferrand, Team Leader for East Africa at the UN's Food and Agricultural Organisation walks past a swarm of desert locusts in the eastern Kenyan city of Meru. It has been more than a year since the worst desert locust infestation in decades hit the region. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DTP6BFQHATAQPUAO4J3O2PIO24.jpg?smart=true&auth=640543c1f4d6af2ff7a653548ee056126f71c52a845d28148380e61537ee058a&width=400&height=225)
A local farmer walks through a swarm of desert locusts in the eastern Kenyan city of Meru. The East African country is battling another wave of infestations along with its neighbours Somalia and Ethiopia, the use of cutting-edge technology and improved co-ordination is helping to crush the menace. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OJFETZ5ACXE32PDD6C22PZGWBI.jpg?smart=true&auth=7851adf8b3c8910f3874fe45d9187f9a7d23c5125a9d86e643ac5d3fafa51db1&width=400&height=225)
A swarm of desert locusts fly after an aircraft sprayed pesticide in the eastern Kenyan city of Meru. The use of cutting-edge technology and improved co-ordination across East Africa is helping to crush the ravenous swarms and protect the livelihoods of thousands of farmers. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PITYFDWSBPK6YZSTDGRAXBMEKQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=a38cb0b03d312bc8d9eef3b9997dfb6b41ba579a5f7bd40d78d2ae2cdea6922e&width=400&height=225)
Locusts fly after an aircraft sprayed pesticide in the eastern Kenyan city of Meru. The country is suffering its worst locust swarms in 70 years. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KPQ5NPPHQKXJYO35FGMR62MKNQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=0befd3ff1b85dcef298646175efca7b312720666cb2c340d62582e0f86fff2b8&width=400&height=225)
A farmer chases away desert locusts at maze field in the eastern Kenyan city of Meru. The country is suffering its worst locust swarms in 70 years. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SJEM2I4YPSLJ7PHGQNAMVLANPM.jpg?smart=true&auth=6a3cad09c6b67b208f2fd9b397004bb216ee4dc69dc62aeb0dc65c8124aa6265&width=400&height=225)
A swarm of desert locust flies after an aircraft sprayed pesticide in the eastern Kenyan city of Meru. Desert locusts belong to the grasshopper family, which form massive swarms when breeding is spurred by good rains. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JWHFTTKKXFQLNWGLBXSXAW3QAA.jpg?smart=true&auth=9950d0d153888d7b80167e9daab36827e07a91765dfc46c031e40e07f631cd16&width=400&height=225)
A farmer walks through a swarm of desert locust in the eastern Kenyan city of Meru. The use of cutting edge technology and improved co-ordination across East Africa is helping to crush the swarms and protect the livelihoods of thousands of farmers. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IDYX4DF3K4WO53UI5WAIGYMWAE.jpg?smart=true&auth=b36c7583f5b9404a97d2d87bbbdf0199eab7a370f3b5c8451e0f97a569d62bea&width=400&height=225)
Desert locusts are seen at maze field in the eastern Kenyan city of Meru. A series of new measures to combat a second wave of the pests has improved control and co-operation in Kenya, Ethiopia and parts of Somalia. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OQXAXJYCPKZ2QTFED2SJRLSTXI.jpg?smart=true&auth=e2bea3c1ad535c40b81f7bd47d89fe86163922c648b59c2101c778ff53075d0c&width=400&height=225)
An aircraft sprays pesticide over the trees covered by desert locusts in eastern Kenyan city of Meru. Each locust eats its weight in vegetation daily and multiplies twenty-fold every three months. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/L3ZFW4JCJWAZRKAA42QMUS35VQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=14ed4061ae6f6670892936a13b82829ed9912d08d7ae590691fa4dd3ef767127&width=400&height=225)
A pilot follows a swarm of desert locusts during a surveillance flight as farmers set fires to create smoke in their attempt to chase away the insects from fields in Meru, Kenya. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OHHON4WE22RMDM5V6MXI4SZPEI.jpg?smart=true&auth=50caeb324001133fa8ac75676ed768c12421c12f3a9927ebcac7b85ea0757daa&width=400&height=225)
A farmer walks through a swarm of desert locust in the eastern Kenyan city of Meru. The infestations devastated 23 countries across East Africa, the Middle East and South Asia in 2020, with Kenya suffering its worst locust swarms in 70 years. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KZWUDBTFY7XKQ5NOVD2PLPMZTE.jpg?smart=true&auth=0cf2f2ca5a60aaa186448e4e7bfde788395d6b5cc7d5548eb41d2964e5d5be40&width=400&height=225)
A swarm of desert locusts flies after an aircraft sprayed pesticide in the eastern Kenyan city of Meru. The UN's Food and Agricultural Organisation is working closely with several Kenyan agencies before teams are sent to targeted areas to spray pesticides to prevent damage to crops and grazing areas. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7E6CXVOVX4YUUTDHZVLKPCLLEQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=05817708bb5bc4d28e369267213717dae3c80cd592eaae88bc0d1d2c90409904&width=400&height=225)
Cyril Ferrand, Team Leader for East Africa at the UN's Food and Agricultural Organisation walks past a swarm of desert locusts in the eastern Kenyan city of Meru. It has been more than a year since the worst desert locust infestation in decades hit the region. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DTP6BFQHATAQPUAO4J3O2PIO24.jpg?smart=true&auth=640543c1f4d6af2ff7a653548ee056126f71c52a845d28148380e61537ee058a&width=400&height=225)
A local farmer walks through a swarm of desert locusts in the eastern Kenyan city of Meru. The East African country is battling another wave of infestations along with its neighbours Somalia and Ethiopia, the use of cutting-edge technology and improved co-ordination is helping to crush the menace. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OJFETZ5ACXE32PDD6C22PZGWBI.jpg?smart=true&auth=7851adf8b3c8910f3874fe45d9187f9a7d23c5125a9d86e643ac5d3fafa51db1&width=400&height=225)
A swarm of desert locusts fly after an aircraft sprayed pesticide in the eastern Kenyan city of Meru. The use of cutting-edge technology and improved co-ordination across East Africa is helping to crush the ravenous swarms and protect the livelihoods of thousands of farmers. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PITYFDWSBPK6YZSTDGRAXBMEKQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=a38cb0b03d312bc8d9eef3b9997dfb6b41ba579a5f7bd40d78d2ae2cdea6922e&width=400&height=225)
Locusts fly after an aircraft sprayed pesticide in the eastern Kenyan city of Meru. The country is suffering its worst locust swarms in 70 years. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KPQ5NPPHQKXJYO35FGMR62MKNQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=0befd3ff1b85dcef298646175efca7b312720666cb2c340d62582e0f86fff2b8&width=400&height=225)
A farmer chases away desert locusts at maze field in the eastern Kenyan city of Meru. The country is suffering its worst locust swarms in 70 years. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SJEM2I4YPSLJ7PHGQNAMVLANPM.jpg?smart=true&auth=6a3cad09c6b67b208f2fd9b397004bb216ee4dc69dc62aeb0dc65c8124aa6265&width=400&height=225)
A swarm of desert locust flies after an aircraft sprayed pesticide in the eastern Kenyan city of Meru. Desert locusts belong to the grasshopper family, which form massive swarms when breeding is spurred by good rains. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JWHFTTKKXFQLNWGLBXSXAW3QAA.jpg?smart=true&auth=9950d0d153888d7b80167e9daab36827e07a91765dfc46c031e40e07f631cd16&width=400&height=225)
A farmer walks through a swarm of desert locust in the eastern Kenyan city of Meru. The use of cutting edge technology and improved co-ordination across East Africa is helping to crush the swarms and protect the livelihoods of thousands of farmers. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IDYX4DF3K4WO53UI5WAIGYMWAE.jpg?smart=true&auth=b36c7583f5b9404a97d2d87bbbdf0199eab7a370f3b5c8451e0f97a569d62bea&width=400&height=225)
Desert locusts are seen at maze field in the eastern Kenyan city of Meru. A series of new measures to combat a second wave of the pests has improved control and co-operation in Kenya, Ethiopia and parts of Somalia. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OQXAXJYCPKZ2QTFED2SJRLSTXI.jpg?smart=true&auth=e2bea3c1ad535c40b81f7bd47d89fe86163922c648b59c2101c778ff53075d0c&width=400&height=225)
An aircraft sprays pesticide over the trees covered by desert locusts in eastern Kenyan city of Meru. Each locust eats its weight in vegetation daily and multiplies twenty-fold every three months. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/L3ZFW4JCJWAZRKAA42QMUS35VQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=14ed4061ae6f6670892936a13b82829ed9912d08d7ae590691fa4dd3ef767127&width=400&height=225)
A pilot follows a swarm of desert locusts during a surveillance flight as farmers set fires to create smoke in their attempt to chase away the insects from fields in Meru, Kenya. AFP
In the skies with Kenya's locust hunters
Pilots patrol the skies in helicopters searching for locust swarms to battle its invasion
AFP
16 February, 2021
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