Morocco takes preventive measures against locust invasion
Maghreb-Morocco, Economics, 10/30/2003

A ministerial meeting was held to probe the threat of a locust outbreak and take preventive measures.

Several officials, including minister of the interior and minister of agriculture and rural development, respectively Mustapha Sahel and Mohand Laenser, and top military and civil rescue officers took part in the meeting. The meeting was held after reports by FAO warned that desert locust outbreaks in Mauritania, Niger and Sudan may locally threaten crops and spread to neighboring countries. In Morocco, some insects were reported in the southern regions of Dakhla, Aousserd, Laayoune and Al Farcia. Head of the national anti-locust center, El Ghaout, told reporters that Morocco has been following closely the situation and enforced prevention procedures at the borders.

Desert locusts outbreaks were reported in areas of northwestern Mauritania, northern Niger and northeastern Sudan, FAO said. Desert locusts are normally solitary scattered insects but when climatic conditions are favorable, for example after good rains and a mild temperature, they can rapidly increase in number, FAO said. After several years of drought, rains have expanded in the affected areas, the agency noted.

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