Southern Libya continues to witness widespread desert locust swarms, causing crop damage and vegetation destruction, threatening an environmental catastrophe if swift action is not taken to enhance control efforts.
Hussein Al-Breiki, spokesperson for the National Locust Control Committee, stated that desert locust swarms have spread extensively in the southern region and are in the mating and egg-laying phase.
Al-Breiki warned local media that an environmental disaster could occur if quick measures are not taken to address the significant shortage of locust pesticides, spraying machines, and vehicles. He appealed to the government and officials to provide the necessary resources to combat and limit the spread of locusts, cautioning about the severe risks posed by desert locusts if not confronted and eliminated promptly.
The Libyan Center for Desert Research and Development of Desert Communities confirmed that farms in southern areas face significant challenges due to the spread of desert locusts, posing a serious threat to crops and pastures.
The center noted a severe lack of resources and equipment needed to combat this pest in southern regions. Current efforts rely on limited means such as vehicles and small spray tanks, insufficient for dealing with the vast numbers of locusts.
Experts attribute the desert locust invasion in southern Libya to recent heavy rains and floods in desert areas, as well as new swarms arriving from northern Sudan and Chad, in addition to the presence of this pest in neighboring Niger.
According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the desert locust is one of the most dangerous pests threatening agricultural production and food security. Its danger lies in its ability to reproduce under various environmental and climatic conditions.
A single square kilometer of desert locust swarms can contain up to 80 million adult locusts, capable of consuming in one day the equivalent of food consumed by 35,000 people125.
Source: Al Jazeera + Agencies
