Morocco Raises Alert Level as Desert Locusts Appear in Southeast
Doha – Morocco's Interior Ministry announced today that the country has heightened its preparedness levels following the detection of limited desert locust swarms in southeastern regions, amid growing concerns about locust movements from the African Sahel and Northwest Africa.
'All relevant sectors and specialized services have raised vigilance, mobilization, and preparedness levels to face all challenges related to the spread of this type of insect,' the ministry stated in an official release, noting that the situation remains 'under control and not cause for concern at present.'
Locust swarms were recently spotted 'on a limited scale and in restricted numbers in some southeastern areas of the kingdom,' the ministry confirmed, saying that this has prompted the implementation of necessary preventive measures to address all potential developments.
As part of its proactive response, authorities have reactivated command centers across affected provinces to monitor the situation and take necessary actions.
These measures include mobilizing resources, putting all intervention means on standby, and forming specialized teams equipped with machinery, equipment, and pesticides for surveillance and locust control operations. The ministry emphasized that aerial resources have also been mobilized.
'It is necessary to confirm the availability of sufficient pesticide stocks to deal with any emergency,' the ministry stated, adding that intervention teams are taking all necessary precautions to protect ecosystems and preserve biodiversity of natural environments, including water, plant, and animal resources.
Read also: Baitas: Morocco's Water Reserves Help Agriculture Rebound After Heavy Rains
This infestation follows unprecedented locust movements across North Africa, having already impacted agricultural lands in Libya, Tunisia, and Algeria before reaching Morocco's borders.
Tunisia has reported treating approximately 600 hectares affected by desert locusts as of March 27, with monitoring operations ongoing across multiple governorates. FAO experts are currently assessing the situation in Tunisia, where favorable conditions for locust expansion exist.
Experts explained that recent heavy rains and temperatures between 20-30 degrees Celsius have created favorable conditions for locust breeding in eastern and desert regions. The easterly winds, known as 'Chergui winds,' facilitate the insects' cross-border movement.
The ministry pledged that 'all concerned services and sectors will remain mobilized to strengthen monitoring, reconnaissance, and surveillance operations, especially in areas that witness natural locust concentrations, and take various measures to limit its spread and eliminate it.'
According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), a small locust swarm can consume the same amount of food in one day as 35,000 people, or damage about 100 tons of crops across a square kilometer of fields, potentially threatening food security in affected regions.
The ministry stressed that its comprehensive response strategy prioritizes both effective control measures and environmental protection, maintaining readiness while ensuring that all interventions follow protocols for preserving natural resources and biodiversity. Tags: desert locusts in MoroccoMinistry of Interior
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