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Developments in the Strategy of Red Locust Plague Prevention in the Fifty-Year History of the International Red Locust Control Organisation for Central and Southern Africa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

E. K. Byaruhanga
E. K. Byaruhanga
Affiliation:
International Red Locust Control Organisation for Central and Southern Africa, P. O. Box 240252, Ndola, Zambia, E-mail: locust@zamnet.zm
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Abstract

The International Red Locust Control Service (IRLCS) was formally established in 1949 with the primary objective of controlling locusts in their outbreak areas, thereby preventing the recurrence of plagues. The name of IRLCS was subsequently changed in 1970 to the International Red Locust Control Organisation for Central and Southern Africa (IRLCO-CSA), but retained the same objectives. Over the years, IRLCO-CSA has experienced changes in membership and locations of its Headquarters and operational centres. Its principle mandate has remained the same even though it has been modified and rationalised from time to time. The organisation carried out investigations that led to the identification of the red locust outbreak areas and the development of various control technologies. Control methods developed from the original physical ones which were laborious and inefficient; to insecticide dusting and baiting; to the spraying by aircraft. In its history of locust control programmes, IRLCO-CSA has used arsenic compounds, BHC, DNOC, dieldrin and fenitrothion as insecticides. The success that IRLCO-CSA has enjoyed in its 50 years history has been thanks to the cooperation of countries in eastern, central and southern Africa which are vulnerable to attack by the red locust, and the international community.

Résumé

Le Service Internationale de Lutte contre le Criquet Rouge (IRLCS) a été crée en 1949 avec pour objectif principal de contrôler les sauterelles dans leurs foyers de reproduction afin de prévenir le rythme de leurs fléaux. Le service changea de nom en 1970, pour être Organisation Internationale de Lutte contre le Criquet Rouge en Afrique Centrale et Australe—IRLCO-CSA, mais sa mission resta la même. Au fur des ans, IRLCO-SCA a connu des changements de partenaires et de localisation de sa Direction Générale et de ces centres opérationnels. Bien que son mandat principal est resté inchangé celui-ci fut de temps à autre légérement modifié et rationalisé. L'organisation a mené des recherches qui ont conduit à l'identification des sites de reproduction et d'essaimage du criquet rouge ainsi que la mise sur pied des technologies variées en matière de lutte. A partir des méthodes de physiques de lutte qui étaient fastidieuses et inefficaces, on a mis sur point des insecticides à poudrer et des appâts; puis la pulvérisation par avion. Au cours des programmes de lutte contre les criquets, IRLCO-CSA a toujours utilisé des insecticides à base d'arsenic, le BHC, le DNOC, le dieldrin et le fenitrothion. L'organisation a été couronnée de succès pendant ces 50 ans grâce à la coopération de la communauté internationale et surtout des pays d'Afrique orientale, centrale et australe qui sont très exposés à l'attaque par le criquet rouge.

Keywords

criquet rougeNomadacris septemfasciatafléauxfoyers grégarigènesIRLCS et IRLCO-CSAred locustNomadacris septemfasciataplaguesoutbreak areasIRLCS and IRLCO-CSA
Type
Preamble
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 19 , Issue 4 , December 1999 , pp. 259 - 264
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1999

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References

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