Sheikh Tijan Sosseh, project coordinator of the Africa Emergency Locust Project (AELP) has said that 113 communities had been compensated for their losses during the locust invasion in 2004.

In an interview with newsmen, AELP boss said the project had hired a consultant to conduct a crop loss assessment, to enable them identify the damage done during the invasion and compensate the victims adquately.

He said that the communities were recently given knap sack sprayers and Watering Cans, and that in mid next month, farmers in the locust affected areas would get another (AELP) compensation package of Nerica rice seeds, cassava cuttings, mango, cashew and orange seedlings.

Africa Emergency Locust Project , a world Bank and Gambia government funded project, with the ultimate objective to control locusts and metigate its effects, has four components; namely: the emergency locust control and management; strengthening of the early warning system; and the emergency agricultural investment and project management.

According to Mr Sosseh, the project had trained national quality control teams, the functions of which teams, among others, would be to observe  during locust campaigns, enviromental sanitation, health and other aspects. " We have also trained a national integrated pest management committee.Their function will be to develop a national policy on  integrated pest management. Locust scouts were also trained and they are well equipped to react and combat any possible locust invasion, within 24 hours.

We also have two aircrafts on the stand-by, provided by President Jammeh,  in case of any locust invasion". Sheikh Tijan Sosseh added that AELP project will soon build standard  pesticide stores in all the regions .