Scientists believe that a new tracking programme will be able to prevent a second surge of the crop-ravaging insects.

They have been monitoring the worst locust attack in Kenya in 70 years.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/latest-world-news-spray-planes-can-counter-worst-locust-outbreak-in-eastern-africa-united-nations-278328">Spray planes can counter worst locust outbreak in eastern Africa: United Nations</a>

Previously, the United Nations (UN) had suggested that spray planes that spray pesticides can counter the problem.

The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization has warned that an imminent second hatch of the insects could threaten the food security of 25 million people across the region as it enters the cropping season.

Experts also said that a quick response to the problem is vital as if it is left unchecked, the number of locusts can grow up to 500 times by June.

Also see: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/how-desert-locust-swarms-in-ethiopia-kenya-and-somalia-threaten-to-ravage-east-africa-275577">Desert Locust swarms in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia threaten to ravage East Africa</a>

Researchers are currently running a supercomputer model to predict breeding areas that may have been missed by ground monitoring.&nbsp;

According to Kenneth Mwangi, a satellite information scientist, based at the Intergovernmental Authority on Development climate prediction and applications centre, based in Nairobi, ''the model will be able to tell us the areas in which hoppers are emerging and we will also get ground information''.

''The focus will be on stopping hoppers becoming adults, as that leads to another cycle of infestation. We want to avoid that. We want to advise governments early before an upsurge happens,'' he added.

So far, the supercomputer, funded by the aid of £35 million&nbsp;by the&nbsp;United Kingdom as part of its Weather and Climate Information Services for Africa programme,&nbsp;has successfully forecast the movement of locusts using data such as wind speed and direction, temperature, and humidity.&nbsp;The model has achieved 90 per cent accuracy in forecasting the future locations of the swarms, Mwangi said.

Scientists believe that a new tracking programme will be able to prevent a second surge of the crop-ravaging insects. They have been monitoring the worst locust attack in Kenya in 70 years.

Scientists believe that a new tracking programme will be able to prevent a second surge of the crop-ravaging insects. They have been monitoring the worst locust attack in Kenya in 70 years. Also read: Spray planes can counter worst locust outbreak in eastern Africa: United Nations Previously, the United Nations (UN) had suggested that spray planes that spray pesticides can counter the problem. The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization has warned that an imminent second hatch of the insects could threaten the food security of 25 million people across the region as it enters the cropping season. Experts also said that a quick response to the problem is vital as if it is left unchecked, the number of locusts can grow up to 500 times by June. Also see: Desert Locust swarms in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia threaten to ravage East Africa Researchers are currently running a supercomputer model to predict breeding areas that may have been missed by ground monitoring. According to Kenneth Mwangi, a satellite information scientist, based at the Intergovernmental Authority on Development climate prediction and applications centre, based in Nairobi, ''the model will be able to tell us the areas in which hoppers are emerging and we will also get ground information''. ''The focus will be on stopping hoppers becoming adults, as that leads to another cycle of infestation. We want to avoid that. We want to advise governments early before an upsurge happens,'' he added. So far, the supercomputer, funded by the aid of £35 million by the United Kingdom as part of its Weather and Climate Information Services for Africa programme, has successfully forecast the movement of locusts using data such as wind speed and direction, temperature, and humidity. The model has achieved 90 per cent accuracy in forecasting the future locations of the swarms, Mwangi said.

Technology to be used for prevention against second wave of locusts in east Africa

Fighting locusts is the biggest problem emerging in the horn of Africa. The swelling numbers of locusts have threatened a food emergency in some of the African countries. But, the danger extends beyond Africa as several reports suggest that west and southwest Asia could be the next target.

The reports also say that even India and<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-to-consider-importing-insecticides-from-india-to-fight-locusts-281375"> Pakistan will not be spared from the growing threat of locust</a>s.

As locusts from Africa are headed to Pakistan and as the millions of inch-long pests are on their way to wage war on Pakistani crops, Islamabad has sought to import chemicals from India to fight them.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/how-desert-locust-swarms-in-ethiopia-kenya-and-somalia-threaten-to-ravage-east-africa-275577">In pics: Desert Locust swarms in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia threaten to ravage East Africa</a>

Earlier this month, Pakistan also declared a national emergency over locusts after it destroyed the country's maize, cotton, wheat and other crops.

Some 40 to 80 million locusts are capable of wiping out food for 35,000 people.

Meanwhile, the Africa continent is also suffering from its worst locust outbreak in decades. These migratory pests have devastated large tracts of croplands in the north and central Africa.

What started with Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia, it has now spread to Uganda, Tanzania and Sudan; and as per reports, a food emergency looms over these countries.

Uganda's Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda recently held an emergency meeting&nbsp;in which the leaders discussed a strategy to tackle the desert locusts.&nbsp;

Ugandan officials are planning to deploy 2,000 soldiers and send supply equipment to tackle the invasion by desert locusts.

The state will also provide manual and motorised spray pumps to fight the locusts. The government is also considering aerial spraying of the locusts.

Earlier, the United Nations had also sounded a food alarm.

By June, the locust population is set to grow 500 times spreading to West Asia as well. The locust population is presently breeding in Saudi Arabia and Yemen. It further expected to spread to Egypt, Sudan, and Eritrea.

In southwest Asia, southern coast in Iran is the breeding ground.

Croplands in Pakistan's Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan will be the worst affected while, the bordering Indian states of Gujarat and Rajasthan could also face the brunt. 
&nbsp; 
Many Asian and African countries have begun to prepare in advance.

The U.N. estimates that a locust control plan will cost an estimated 76 million dollars; what is available so far is just 20 million dollars.

A disaster is waiting to happen if nothing is done by next month.

Fighting locusts is the biggest problem emerging in the horn of Africa. The swelling numbers of locusts have threatened a food emergency in some of the African countries.

Fighting locusts is the biggest problem emerging in the horn of Africa. The swelling numbers of locusts have threatened a food emergency in some of the African countries. But, the danger extends beyond Africa as several reports suggest that west and southwest Asia could be the next target. The reports also say that even India and Pakistan will not be spared from the growing threat of locusts. As locusts from Africa are headed to Pakistan and as the millions of inch-long pests are on their way to wage war on Pakistani crops, Islamabad has sought to import chemicals from India to fight them. In pics: Desert Locust swarms in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia threaten to ravage East Africa Earlier this month, Pakistan also declared a national emergency over locusts after it destroyed the country's maize, cotton, wheat and other crops. Some 40 to 80 million locusts are capable of wiping out food for 35,000 people. Meanwhile, the Africa continent is also suffering from its worst locust outbreak in decades. These migratory pests have devastated large tracts of croplands in the north and central Africa. What started with Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia, it has now spread to Uganda, Tanzania and Sudan; and as per reports, a food emergency looms over these countries. Uganda's Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda recently held an emergency meeting in which the leaders discussed a strategy to tackle the desert locusts. Ugandan officials are planning to deploy 2,000 soldiers and send supply equipment to tackle the invasion by desert locusts. The state will also provide manual and motorised spray pumps to fight the locusts. The government is also considering aerial spraying of the locusts. Earlier, the United Nations had also sounded a food alarm. By June, the locust population is set to grow 500 times spreading to West Asia as well. The locust population is presently breeding in Saudi Arabia and Yemen. It further expected to spread to Egypt, Sudan, and Eritrea. In southwest Asia, southern coast in Iran is the breeding ground. Croplands in Pakistan's Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan will be the worst affected while, the bordering Indian states of Gujarat and Rajasthan could also face the brunt. Many Asian and African countries have begun to prepare in advance. The U.N. estimates that a locust control plan will cost an estimated 76 million dollars; what is available so far is just 20 million dollars. A disaster is waiting to happen if nothing is done by next month.

Uganda deploys army, Pakistan imports insecticides from India as countries brace for locust attacks

Small planes that can spray pesticides are the only effective way to combat the worst locusts outbreak in 70 years in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/locust-plague-devastates-crops-in-horn-of-africa-276267">Kenya,&nbsp;</a>according to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-gita-sabharwal-appointed-as-un-resident-coordinator-in-thailand-277450">United Nations </a>(UN).

According to the UN, $76million is immediately needed to widen such efforts across e<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/locust-plague-devastates-crops-in-horn-of-africa-276267">ast Africa</a>.

Experts have warned that a quick response to the problem is vital as if it is left unchecked, the number of locusts can grow up to 500 times by June.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/locust-plague-devastates-crops-in-horn-of-africa-276267">Locust plague devastates crops in Horn of Africa</a>

Billions of locusts have descended in several parts of Africa.&nbsp;Currently, only five planes are spraying pesticides in the country&nbsp;to counter the problem.

As per UN reports, the normally bouncing locusts became dozy, slow and die&nbsp;just hours after the spraying, they lay scattered on the ground, crunching underfoot.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-pm-imran-khan-declares-national-emergency-to-fight-locusts-278140">Pakistan PM Imran Khan declares national emergency to fight locusts</a>

Additional aid will be consequential in providing assistance to combat the problem.

The authorities of the country are trying to restraint the locusts from spreading to neighbouring countries like Uganda and South Sudan.

The locusts had swept into the country&nbsp;from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/locust-plague-devastates-crops-in-horn-of-africa-276267">Somalia </a>and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/locust-plague-devastates-crops-in-horn-of-africa-276267">Ethiopia </a>after unusually heavy rains in the past few months.

Watch:&nbsp;Somalia hit by worst locust invasion in 25 years

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/somalia-hit-by-worst-locust-invasion-in-25-years-269582/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

It led to the decimation of crops in some areas and it threatened the lives of vulnerable people hit by&nbsp;a hunger crisis.

Parts of Sudan, Djibouti and Eritrea were also adversely affected the swarms of locusts.

Small planes that can spray pesticides are the only effective way to combat the worst locusts outbreak in 70 years in Kenya, according to the United Nations (UN).

Small planes that can spray pesticides are the only effective way to combat the worst locusts outbreak in 70 years in Kenya, according to the United Nations (UN). According to the UN, $76million is immediately needed to widen such efforts across east Africa. Experts have warned that a quick response to the problem is vital as if it is left unchecked, the number of locusts can grow up to 500 times by June. Also read: Locust plague devastates crops in Horn of Africa Billions of locusts have descended in several parts of Africa. Currently, only five planes are spraying pesticides in the country to counter the problem. As per UN reports, the normally bouncing locusts became dozy, slow and die just hours after the spraying, they lay scattered on the ground, crunching underfoot. Also read: Pakistan PM Imran Khan declares national emergency to fight locusts Additional aid will be consequential in providing assistance to combat the problem. The authorities of the country are trying to restraint the locusts from spreading to neighbouring countries like Uganda and South Sudan. The locusts had swept into the country from Somalia and Ethiopia after unusually heavy rains in the past few months. Watch: Somalia hit by worst locust invasion in 25 years It led to the decimation of crops in some areas and it threatened the lives of vulnerable people hit by a hunger crisis. Parts of Sudan, Djibouti and Eritrea were also adversely affected the swarms of locusts.

Spray planes can counter worst locust outbreak in eastern Africa: United Nations

Desert Locust swarms in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia threaten to ravage East Africa