Yemen, war, Cholera outbreaks, malnutrition, poverty, secession, and locust outbreaks are the keywords in all the talks about Yemen currently. In times of war, people are vulnerable and exposed to harm more than at any other time, and with high poverty rates, unemployment, and population growth, it is getting more devastating.
Summer in Yemen is recognized by its beautiful and heavy rains, which is why the spread of many diseases is common. As is the spread of many different types of insects. Yemen was exposed to locust outbreaks annually, but this year the outbreaks were the highest recorded in terms of damage and density. FAO and WFP have warned of the damage that affected the farmers and their production. In a country that is lacking vital services because of the war, it has been a huge challenge to provide pesticides to all farmers.
In this regard, even before the war, Yemen had very modest strategies and equipment. The war has been preventing pest control measures needed to prevent devastating plagues. This year, farmers have used simple techniques in fighting the outbreaks, such as simply waving them away using carton panels.
A farmer waving locusts off his field . Image courtesy FAO. Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/faoemergencies/48378177006/in/album-72157709893163382/
Only in some parts of Yemen can the Ministry of Agriculture & Irrigation intervene and help the farmers. It is known that the local crop production is limited, so any damage that occurs due to natural hazards, including locust infestations, will affect the food security situation of the poor, especially those in rural areas whose livelihoods are entirely dependent on agriculture.
Yemenis have turned the crisis into an opportunity. How?
People in Yemen are known for their love of eating different locust cuisines, some like it boiled, fried, or even grilled. A nutritional alternative was found for people who believe that locust contains many valuable nutritious ingredients. People have started to collect and eat them. Some have even turned it into a business – collecting them in plastic bottles and selling them in central markets, besides the vegetables and meat.
People collecting locusts, near Sana’a University campus
Locusts are kept in plastic bottles
Locusts in the initial outbreak were grey (their natural colour). Since then their tint has been changing. The last outbreak was that of pink-coloured locusts. All along, people have been eating the locusts, without fear.
Recently, there was a case of a bottle of 10 locusts being stolen. Such a bottle costs 750 YER, which is a big deal for many people.
So these days, Yemenis wait for locusts with a mixture of fear and excitement. They wish it were somehow possible to procure locusts without collateral damage to crops.
Maybe in the future, Yemenis will innovate a way to store the locust and preserve their unique cuisine for the whole year, and this will be a way to survive and start a new business. Perhaps the solution lies in improved prediction of outbreaks, so farmers are better prepared to limit the losses and, at the same time, harness locusts profitably.
Further reading:
- When Life Gives You Locusts: Yemenis turn a plague into dinner during Ramadan: https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/when-life-gives-you-locusts-yemenis-turn-plague-dinner-during-ramadan
- FAO warns of desert locust outbreak in Yemen and Horn of Africa: http://www.fao.org/emergencies/fao-in-action/stories/stories-detail/en/c/1203196/
