However, low levels of rainfall in May, in conjunction with both new and continued ground and aerial pest control initiatives, led to the locust population to decline. Their growth had been stagnant over the preceding two months, with reduced average swarm sizes and a less widespread distribution of locusts. Continued low rainfall and the relative lack of greenery in north-western Kenya resulted in a progressive decline in both swarm size and their overall population from June to September, resulting in reduced levels of locust maturation. That then placed much of the remaining locust population in recession. Though the swarms have become significantly smaller, slowly maturing at the border of Kenya, they could still become a significant threat as the rainy season comes into play.
Somalia’s agriculture ministry called the outbreak a national emergency and a major threat to the country’s fragile food security, saying the “uncommonly large” locust swarms are consuming huge amounts of crops. Combating the crisis isn't likely to be easy, especially in Somalia, where parts of the country are in the grip of the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab extremist group. Desert locusts are breeding in the regions of Galmudug, Puntland and Somaliland. Over the course of 2021, projections indicate that more than 245,000 acres of land will require direct control interventions in Somalia.
In swarms the size of major cities, the locusts also have affected various parts of Eritrea. The military and general public have been deployed to combat the crisis according to Eritrea's Agricultural Ministry. In Eritrea, big swarms of immature adult locusts that migrated from Ethiopia, were identified and controlled around Shieb, Gahtielay, and Wengebo and Beareze of the Northern Red Sea Coast, having more control over the locusts than other parts of Africa.
According to the Agriculture Ministry officials, the relatively few locusts reaching Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa are “leftovers” from the “massive invasion” in the eastern and southern parts of the country. Insecticide spraying is being conducted around the city to stop the outbreak from spreading elsewhere. Millions of people in this country already cope with the constant risk of drought or flooding, making it hard for them with this added stress. The desert locust infestation in Ethiopia has deteriorated, despite ongoing ground and aerial control operations. Some farms have registered nearly 100 percent loss of teff, a staple crop in Ethiopia. Moreover, eggs are hatching profusely and forming hopper bands in the Somali region, due to the heavy rainfall.
Despite major control and prevention operations, substantial crop losses have already occurred in the Amhara and Tigray regions of Ethiopia. The hopper bands (young