Locust invasion a grim reality
2004-03-23 15:44
Rome - The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) warned on Tuesday that northwest Africa was at risk of a massive invasion of locusts which could have "a dramatic impact on food security in the region."
"There are signs that the situation is moving towards the early stages of an upsurge. International donor assistance is urgently required to prevent a plague from developing," warned the FAO's Locust Group in a statement.
In Morocco, intensive aerial and ground control operations are in progress against swarms that are laying eggs in the Draa Valley on the southern side of the Atlas Mountains, the statement said.
In the next few weeks, more swarms are expected to arrive in Morocco and Algeria from northern Mauritania and the Western Sahara.
In Mauritania, adult locusts have been forming swarms in parts of the north and northwest where vegetation is drying out, and some of these swarms have been seen moving northwards towards Morocco.
In Niger, many small swarms were seen moving north in early March.
On Monday, Moha Bagari of Morocco's national research and intervention centre warned: "For as long as Mauritania, where the situation is critical, does not have the locusts under control, we must remain vigilant."
"Up to now, the situation is under control in Morocco," he said. Areas in Morocco that have been invaded by locusts are concentrated in the southeast of the country.
"Our strategy is to block the locusts in desert areas so that they don't reach farming regions," said Bagari, adding that "locusts attack all crops."
Last month, the FAO appealed to donors for $6m to support and maintain operations to control the locust population in Mauritania and another $3m for similar operations in Mali, Niger and Chad.
"If survey and control operations have to slow down or be interrupted during this spring in northwest Africa, more swarms will form and move to the Sahel in west Africa at the beginning of the summer growing season.
"If operations are not effective during the summer, this could not only have a dramatic impact on food security within the region but the current situation could develop into a plague by the end of the year," the FAO warned.