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Growing Swarms of Locust Converging on Kenya Threaten Crops

VOA News

   Kenya is undersiegeagain by swarms ofmaturingdesert locusts that
   threaten to ruin farmers'crops and pastures.

   The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said in a statement
   the locustsareswarming across seven counties, nearly double the number
   of counties impacted a week ago.

   The latestlocustinvasion in Kenya comes as theFAOwarns the 28
   anti-locust aircraftassembled byEast African countries to wipe out the
   pest is in jeopardy ofbeing groundedbecause of a lack of funding.

   The FAOtoldits humanitarianpartners Tuesdaythat some $38.8 million in
   additional funding will be needed tokeep the planes in the air through
   Juneover East Africa and Yemen.

   At least one farmer in northern Kenya is taking matters into his own
   hands to get rid of swarms by banging a stick against a can, hoping the
   noise will cause the peststomove onand spare his crops.

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