Hardap: Swarms of desert locusts have broken out in parts of the Hardap and Erongo regions, the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform announced on Tuesday.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the outbreak has been detected at Homeb in the Walvis Bay Rural Constituency of the Erongo Region, as well as in the Daweb Constituency in the Hardap Region.

Ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda stated that the locusts are currently in the flying stage, complicating control efforts. In Erongo, locust activity has been recorded from the Gobabeb Research Centre along the Kuiseb River, stretching over 50 kilometres within the Namib-Naukluft Park across the Erongo and Hardap regions. In Hardap, the infestation extends from the Alt Duwisib area, approximately 65 kilometres from Maltah¶he, heading southeast towards Helmeringhausen. Fifteen farms spanning an estimated 300 to 400 square kilometres have been affected, the ministry said.

The swarms observed have an estimated population of between 5,000 and 10,000, Muyunda noted. While locusts mainly feed on vegetation, large swarms pose a risk to grazing areas and natural vegetation. If uncontrolled, they could spread into farming areas and damage crops and horticultural production.

Authorities have deployed spraying teams equipped with vehicle-mounted sprayers to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread. The ministry is collaborating with stakeholders, including the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, to coordinate control measures, especially in protected areas requiring special access authorisation.

Farmers and the public have been urged to monitor their areas and report locust sightings to the nearest Directorate of Agricultural Production, Extension and Engineering Services office. Muyunda emphasized that early detection and rapid response are crucial, especially while the locusts are still in the hopper stage before becoming fully airborne. The ministry is committed to containing the outbreak and minimising further damage to grazing resources, horticulture, and crop production.