FAO warns of early spread of locusts in Northwest Africa

Published 2025년 4월 30일

Tridge summary

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is calling for increased monitoring and early control measures in northwest Africa as desert locust swarms move south into the Sahara. From late February to late March, heightened locust activity was noted in central Algeria, western Libya, and southern Tunisia due to favorable conditions. The FAO considers the situation precautionary, urging vigilance in areas with recent rains that may support breeding. Intensive field surveys are advised to prevent the swarms from threatening crops and pastures. Early detection and rapid response are crucial to avert a broader crisis, as desert locusts are among the most destructive migratory pests globally.

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Original content

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is urging countries in northwest Africa to step up monitoring and take early control measures as adult swarms and small swarms of desert locusts originating from the Sahel move south into the Sahara in the Western Region of the Desert Locust Range. Locust activity increased from late February to late March, with adult swarms and small swarms arriving in central Algeria, western Libya and southern Tunisia. Favourable environmental conditions are leading to significantly larger than usual infestations during the current spring breeding season. Winds and rainfall have facilitated the movement of desert locusts north from southern Algeria, northern Mali, Niger and Chad. Small swarms have been breeding in these Sahel regions from August to early March. The influx of populations into northwest Africa - particularly in the northern and southern Hoggar Mountains in Algeria and the Fezzan in southwest Libya - has prompted ...

Source: Sinor