Zambia Boosts Locust Response with Western Province Training Initiative
The Ministry of Agriculture has launched a Training of Trainers workshop to strengthen Zambia’s response capacity to locust outbreaks. The program, hosted in Western Province, is aimed at enhancing technical knowledge in locust surveillance, control, and response planning among agricultural officers from all 16 districts in the province.
Officiating on behalf of the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary for Technical Services, Western Province Permanent Secretary Akapelwa Simomo emphasized the critical role the training plays in protecting food security and livelihoods.
He said the initiative is part of government efforts to build resilient agricultural systems capable of withstanding biological threats like locust invasions.
The workshop is being conducted in collaboration with key strategic partners: the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI), and the International Red Locust Control Organization for Central and Southern Africa (IRLCO-CSA). Once trained, the officers will cascade their knowledge to camp and block extension officers and farmers, especially in affected and high-risk areas.
Zambia has recorded significant locust activity in recent years, particularly in Western, Central, and Southern provinces. Twenty districts have been identified as locust hotspots, affecting over 29,000 hectares of land. Early harvesting helped mitigate crop damage, but the threat remains substantial.
The training forms part of the government’s broader agricultural transformation agenda and supports the national goal of producing 10 million metric tonnes of maize, 1 million tonnes of wheat, and 1 million tonnes of soya beans annually by 2027.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to achieving a food-secure Zambia through timely investments in pest management, farmer support, and sustainable agriculture practices. Gratitude was expressed to FAO, CABI, and IRLCO for their continued technical and financial backing.
