Locust outbreaks: AgriSA launches digital monitoring platform | Sprinkaanuitbrake: AgriSA loods digitale moniteringsplatform

24 October 2025

AgriSA is introducing a data-capturing application to help monitor and manage locust outbreaks across South Africa. The platform will enable farmers, district locust officers, and response teams to log sightings and track swarm movements in real time. This will ensure that outbreaks are swiftly identified and effectively contained.

“Over the last decade, AgriSA and its members established a productive working relationship with various authorities to manage outbreaks,” says Janine Byleveld, project spokesperson for AgriSA.

Since August 2025, AgriSA has been engaging with the Directorate: Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Migratory Pest Section: Southern Region, as well as the Department of Agriculture, to strengthen coordination and operational readiness. The expiry of the three-year contracts of district locust officers and foremen created a critical need for renewal and re-nomination across provinces, a process that is currently underway.

The introduction of this application represents a major step forward in early detection, coordination, and response.

The application will serve as a national reporting platform, where users can:

• Log locust sightings with GPS coordinates and photos.
• Track the spread and movement of swarms.
• Enable provincial and national teams to prioritise high-risk areas.
• Support targeted allocation of equipment, resources, and personnel.

“This tool transforms how we manage locust outbreaks, from reactive to proactive,” says Byleveld. “By empowering those on the ground with real-time information, we can mobilise resources faster and reduce crop losses.”

AgriSA has already convened provincial coordination meetings to ensure all stakeholders are aligned. The intention is to be collaborative and supportive of existing efforts. Therefore, the organisation welcomes any further support and participation, as it would aid the cause of managing locust outbreaks.

AgriSA remains committed to working with government and industry partners to strengthen South Africa’s locust management system, protect agricultural production, and support rural resilience. 2

The farming community and members of the public can report swarms by using the WhatsApp number: +27 79 467 0702. Upon interaction, step-by-step prompts will guide users on logging locations and details of locust sightings.

For further information or media inquiries, please contact:

Janine Byleveld, project spokesperson for AgriSA

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24 Oktober 2025

AgriSA stel ’n data-opname-toepassing bekend om te help met die monitering en bestuur van sprinkaanuitbrake regoor Suid-Afrika. Die platform stel boere, distrik-sprinkaanbeamptes en reaksiespanne in staat om waarnemings aan te teken en swermbewegings in reële tyd op te spoor. Dit verseker dat uitbrake vinnig geïdentifiseer en doeltreffend beheer word.

“Oor die afgelope dekade het AgriSA en sy lede ’n produktiewe werkverhouding met verskeie owerhede gevestig om uitbrake te bestuur,” sê Janine Byleveld, projekwoordvoerder van AgriSA.

Sedert Augustus 2025 werk AgriSA saam met die Direktoraat Klimaatsverandering en Ramprisikovermindering Migrerende Plaagafdeling: Suidelike Streek, sowel as die Departement van Landbou, om koördinering en operasionele gereedheid te versterk. Die verstryking van die driejaarkontrakte van distrik-sprinkaanbeamptes en voormanne het ’n dringende behoefte aan hernuwing en heraanstelling in die verskillende provinsies geskep. Dié proses is tans aan die gang.

Die bekendstelling van die toepassing verteenwoordig ’n groot stap vorentoe in vroeë identifisering, beter koördinering en vinniger reaksie.

Die toepassing dien as ’n nasionale aanmeldplatform, waar gebruikers die volgende kan doen:

• Meld sprinkaanwaarnemings aan met GPS-koördinate en foto’s.
• Volg die verspreiding en beweging van swerms.
• Stel provinsiale en nasionale spanne in staat om hoërisikogebiede te prioritiseer.
• Ondersteun die toewysing van toerusting, hulpbronne en personeel.

 

“Hierdie hulpmiddel stel ons in staat om proaktief sprinkaanuitbrake te bestuur,” sê Byleveld. “Deur diegene op grondvlak met toepaslike inligting te bemagtig, kan ons hulpbronne vinniger mobiliseer en oesverliese beperk.”

AgriSA het reeds provinsiale koördineringsvergaderings gehou om te verseker dat alle rolspelers betrokke is. Die bedoeling is om samewerkend en ondersteunend te wees tot bestaande pogings. Daarom verwelkom AgriSA enige verdere ondersteuning en deelname wat die hantering van sprinkaanuitbrake kan versterk.

Die organisasie bly daartoe verbind om saam met die owerhede en bedryfsvennote te werk om Suid-Afrika se sprinkaanbestuurstelsel te versterk, landbouproduksie te beskerm en plattelandse veerkragtigheid te bevorder. 2

 

Die boerderygemeenskap en lede van die publiek kan swerms aanmeld deur die WhatsApp-nommer +27 79 467 0702 te gebruik. Gebruikers sal stapsgewys gelei word om die ligging en besonderhede van sprinkaanswerms aan te teken.

Navrae:

Janine Byleveld, AgriSA-projekwoordvoerder