Mitigating Effects Of Locust Invasion And Covid-19 Preparedness In The Districts Of Nabilatuk And Napak In Karamoja Region Project

Project goal

This project aimed at building the resilience of local communities in the face of both the immediate and long-term impacts of the locust invasion and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Summary of Achievements/impact

Implemented in 2020 in Nabilatuk and Napak districts, this project had the following outcomes;

• Fast-growing seeds provided to 180 households, including beans, tomatoes, eggplants, and sukuma wiki, which contributed to increased food production and availability. These crops supported households in meeting their dietary needs and enabled the sale of excess produce to secure funds for future planting seasons.
• Three greenhouse models were constructed as demonstration sites, introducing beneficiaries to simple modern farming techniques and irrigation methods. These greenhouses helped improve agricultural productivity and resilience, especially against locust invasions and climate change, with some households using the earnings from harvested crops to reinvest in future agricultural activities.
• Sanitation and hygiene kits were provided to 100 households, benefiting approximately 500 individuals (based on the average household size of 5). The kits included soap, basins, drinking water containers, and face masks, which helped communities manage hygiene practices and reduce the spread of COVID-19.
• 30 hands-free hand washing stations were set up in 6 villages, 5 primary schools, and the Nayonai-angokalio health center II. These stations benefitted over 900 community members, including students, contributing to the prevention of COVID-19 transmission through improved hand hygiene.
• Media campaigns were launched to raise awareness about the dual crises of locusts and COVID-19, with radio messages aired in Pokot and Akaramajong languages on Heritage FM. These messages were broadcast 4 times daily for 30 days and reached an estimated 800,000 listeners across the Karamoja sub-region, improving community understanding of locust management and COVID-19 prevention measures.