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Stock photo of an African migratory locust on wheat.
Image by H. Christoph / ullstein via Getty Images
The Minister of Agriculture, Agrarian Reform and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza, has announced that there are lobster outbreaks in three provinces.
According to the department, lobsters are prevalent in the Free State, Northern Cape, and Western Cape.
“Control measures are currently being implemented to curb the spread of lobsters,” the department said in a statement.
READ | Amid pandemic, East Africa braces for another locust invasion
“The current strong winds are helping the flight and spread of the lobsters.”
Didiza urged farmers and farmer organizations to alert the department if they detect locusts and to work with officials on the ground to stop the spread of locusts.
The department has already sent a team of specialists to affected provinces to work with provincial agriculture and rural development officials, the Agricultural Research Council and farmers’ organizations.
Farmers and the general public are advised to report the visibility of locusts in their areas to the following departmental officials: Gert Greyvenstein on 082 451 4860, Vuyokazi Mpumlwana on 084 760 8176 and Ikalafeng Kgakatsi on 072 198 9882 .
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