(Ecofin Agency) - In Western and Northern Africa, ten countries (Algeria, Burkina Faso, Lybia, Mali, Morocco, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Chad and Tunisia) are taking the necessary measures to face a potential locust invasion. These countries that vividly have in memory the disastrous locust invasions of 2003 and 2005 reinforced their defense mechanism against the insects. Nevertheless, the exceptional rains recently recorded in the North-Western Africa increase a risk of locust proliferation.   

“Though everything is currently calm, certain conditions which must be closely monitored push us to be vigilant. The current situation is extremely favorable to locust development but the region has more resources than 12 years ago when it experienced the destructive invasion,” Mohamed Lemine Hamouny, Executive Secretary of Commission for Fight against Locust in Western Region (CLCPRO), told APS. According to him, the risk period lies between January and May 2016.

In 2003, Mauritania and Burkina Faso lost 90% of their yield to the invasions and about three million people suffered the consequences of these losses in the sub-Saharan region. The various nations affected finally solved the issue by using 12 million litres of insecticides; a remedy which failed not to take a toll on the environment.

Aaron Akinocho