As farmers continue to plant and weed crops amid fears of possible infestation of desert locusts, the United Nation Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) has donated additional Shs.2 billion to help fight the menace.

This brings the total national locusts fighting kitty Shs.4 billion, which will help curb the spread to most parts of the country.

According to a report by the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS Net), lack of enough capital hindered the procurement of necessary equipment in the fight against the locusts.

“Previously, funding was a major constraint to FAO’s procurement of pesticides and equipment for the surveillance and aerial and ground control of desert locusts,” read part of the report.

It further state that, 93% of the required funds have been collected from donors, intensifying efforts to significantly mitigate the menace.

“However, donors have made contributions to the control efforts with 93 per cent of the required funds received,” explained the report. “It is most likely that the impacts of the desert locusts will be significantly mitigated given the procurement of the necessary equipment for ground and air operations.”

Large swarms of desert locusts hit the country early January, spreading to nearly 20 counties.

The locust swarms, which matures and lay eggs, pose thread to farmers during this planting season.

In March, World Bank approved the disbursement of Sh1.4 billion from the lender’s Sh25 billion Kenya Climate-Smart Agriculture Project to boost the fight against the pests.

The country also received an additional Shs.400 million from the African Development Fund, to curb the spread of desert locusts.