“FAO” warns against locust epidemics in North Africa and calls surveying operations

With the growing fears of the propagation of the desert locusts in Morocco, the United Nations food and agricultural organization (FAO) launched serious warnings on the spread of this scourge which began in the Sahel region since last December, before spreading to Algeria, Tunisia and Libya in February and March.

This comes at a time when swarms of these locusts have been monitored on a limited scale and in limited number, in certain regions of the southeast of the kingdom; This required taking the necessary preventive measures to respond to all the possibilities and developments received.

According to the “FAO” report, swarms of the desert locusts have arrived in central Algeria, west of Libya and southern Tunisia, where it may have started to reproduce spring, taking advantage of the rains that fell in February. The appropriate climatic conditions continue, these swarms can increase in the coming months; This makes Morocco in the danger circle, especially if the necessary preventive measures are not taken.

The report indicated that the northern regions of the Sahel and the South Sahara saw, in August and August 6, 2024, heavy rains; This has led to the availability of green plant cover, which is an ideal environment for the growth and reproduction of locusts. With the recording of new rains in February and March in the Grand Désert, the grasshoppers were increased to move, driven by the South winds; This improves the chances of moving into newly rainy areas.

It is estimated that “the locusts could continue to reproduce in the center of Algeria, western Libya and southern Tunisia, forming small groups in April, which could turn into new swarms between May and June. It is expected that these small swarms begin immigration to the Sahel region in June and July.” This means that Morocco can be during these swarms if the control measures are not taken effectively.

The organization of food and agriculture stressed that “it is necessary to carry out surveys and control operations in all possible areas to better understand the situation and prevent its exacerbation”.

The United Nations specialized agency, which is leading international efforts to eliminate hunger, stressed the need to “survey and fight in the northern countries of the Western region”, benefiting that “it is probably necessary to fight against efforts in the Sahel region during the summer”.

It should be noted that the Ministry of the Interior said that all the sectors concerned and the competent departments worked, within the framework of the monitoring of developments linked to the propagation of locusts in certain neighboring countries, in particular in the African region of the Sahel and the North West, with the possibilities of support which are possible this type of insect.