Faced with a growing threat from locusts, Chad is stepping up its vigilance. Since the beginning of September, the National Locust Control Agency (ANLA) has launched a vast prospecting campaign covering an area of more than 320,000 km². The main objective of this preventive operation is to monitor areas at risk, identify potential breeding grounds and prevent any invasion of locusts from neighbouring countries, particularly those in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel.
This mobilisation comes at a time of growing regional concern. Climate change, seasonal variability and the migratory cycles of insect pests such as the desert locust are making agricultural systems vulnerable. To address these challenges, Chad is receiving support from the Food System Resilience Programme in West Africa and the Sahel (FSRP-TD). This project, funded by the World Bank, brings together eight countries in the region and three regional organisations with a common goal: to strengthen food security and improve resilience to climatic and biological threats.
On the ground, the system put in place by ANLA is impressive. Several mobile teams, made up of specialists in prospecting, processing, logistics and data analysis, criss-cross areas identified as sensitive. Their mission is to detect the first signs of infestation in good time and intervene immediately. The resources deployed include surveillance drones, equipped vehicles and plant protection products to treat outbreaks in a targeted manner.
The data collected during this campaign plays a crucial role. Not only does it enable a rapid response to any detected threat, but it also enriches existing databases to better anticipate future risks. By improving its forecasting capabilities, Chad is equipping itself with a strategic tool to prevent famine, protect crops and safeguard the livelihoods of rural populations.
In short, this prospecting campaign marks a decisive step in the national strategy to combat locust invasions. It also illustrates the importance of regional cooperation in the face of cross-border threats that ignore national boundaries. Through this initiative, the FSRP-TD confirms its commitment to food security and the protection of its agricultural heritage.
