Locusts Attacking Odesa Region: Why Farmers Will Not Receive Compensation for Damages.

Recently, there has been an invasion of locusts in the Odesa region, posing a significant threat to agricultural lands. However, in the event of crop destruction by the pest, there is currently no compensation from the state provided by law.This was stated in an interview with RBC-Ukraine by Vadym Chaikovskyi, Deputy Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection.

Potential Damages

In mid-July, ecologists recorded a locust invasion in the Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kherson regions. It is especially dangerous for cereal crops: corn, millet, and wheat. Therefore, locusts can cause significant damages to farmers; however, in such a case, no compensation for damages is provided by legislation.

'Direct compensation for farmers' damages due to the locust invasion is currently not provided by legislation. The task of the State Food Safety Service, local authorities, and other agencies is to prevent the widespread propagation of locusts and the associated damages. Honestly and openly - based on the results of our work, it is already evident that we are succeeding'

, says Vadym Chaikovskyi.Vadym Chaikovskyi also added that significant damages to fields from the invasion have not been recorded, as the main food source of the pest is predominantly concentrated in floodplains near forest belts, ravines, and swamps. According to him, mass spread of these insects to central and western Ukraine is possible only with significant warming and prolonged drought.

What to Do When You Notice Locusts

In small quantities, locusts do not pose any threat to the harvest. If you notice a lot of these insects in your land, the main thing is to promptly notify the local authorities of the State Food Safety Service for rapid response and inspection. Since early detection of pest outbreaks allows preventing their spread.As a reminder, we recently wrote about the locusts being spotted in cities, as well as how to get rid of gnats and beetles in the kitchen.The appearance of locusts in the Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kherson regions can lead to serious losses for the agricultural sector. The state currently does not provide compensation for farmers in case of losses due to the invasion of the pest, so it is crucial to timely identify and report locust invasion centers to prevent their spread.