China faces its worst locust plague in decades

China’s southern provinces such as Yunnan are facing their worst locust plague in decades.

According to the South China Morning Post, the bamboo locust swarm invaded Jiangcheng, Yunnan province, from the Border of Laos in June and gradually moved north, rapidly expanding its influence. By August 17, the affected area of Yunnan province had reached 11 counties and 106 square kilometers.

The Yunnan provincial government has sent tens of thousands of investigators to explore the countryside and forests. China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs held an emergency drill in Jiangcheng at the end of July, involving Yunnan province and the neighboring provinces of Sichuan, Guangxi and Guizhou.

But local investigators in Yunnan say it is difficult to control the highly mobile swarms in the mountains. With the largest number of locust plagues in decades, local farmers are feeling overwhelmed.

The emergence of locust plagues adds another risk factor to China’s food security. Floods and swine fever have already put China’s food supply at risk. Demand for corn is expected to exceed supply by 16m tonnes over the next 12 months.