Locusts stripping crops in Moruga

Hordes of locusts swarmed Rock River and environs in Moruga and residents complained that they have already suffered thousands of dollars’ worth of damage.

They believe worse is yet to come, as insecticides used in the hope of warding off the locusts have not deterred them from damaging crops and vegetation.

Affected resident Dexter Bachoo told Newsday that locusts have been spotted for the past week.

"No matter how much we spend on chemicals to spray them, they keep coming back. The more we spray, the more they come. They would leave for a while but come back during the day," Bachoo said. "When the sun is hot, they are flying all over. If it starts to rain, they will disappear for a while. They are coming from far, from forested areas."

The pests, Bachoo said, have devastated several crops like eddoes, cassava leaves and fig trees.

He and his brother Jason have a garden near the family’s home.

Like other residents, Bachoo estimated that farmers affected are from communities from Rock River to Basse Terre.

A woman who sells fruits and vegetables at the side of the road said apart from causing agricultural damage, the locusts are a nuisance.

"They are stripping trees by eating all the leaves. They are eating everything, then leaving.

"Who is going to compensate us for our loss? Ramdath (a farmer) lost acres of peas to the locusts. They are all over," she said.

A third resident said the locust invasion happens yearly.