Govt lines up planes to hold back locust 22 Govt lines up planes to hold back locust THE government will from today start using spray planes to fight off the invasion of desert locusts, which have been attacking crops in Longido and Simanjiro districts in Arusha and Manyara regions respectively. Agriculture minister Prof Adolf Mkenda has urged residents in the two districts to be patient as the government moves to combat the waves of locusts, noting the fast-moving insects will be controlled as equipped units the ministry are deployed to control the invasion. “We are going to use spray planes to kill the desert locusts which have been attacking crops with devastating effect in Longido and Simanjiro districts. Our experts are collaborating with the Tropical Pesticides Research Institute (TPRI), led by Acting Director General Dr Ephraim Njau, he stated.