Morocco supports Mauritania’s efforts to combat desert locust surge

Morocco has donated Mauritania 100,000 liters of pesticides to support this country’s efforts in combating desert locust invasion, threatening agricultural output.

This donation is part of the permanent cooperation set between the two neighboring countries’ specialized bodies in coordination with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

Nouakchott has praised Rabat’s “rapid response” to the request for assistance to help Mauritania combat desert locusts outbreak which represents a cross-border threat, necessitating enhanced regional cooperation.

Currently, efforts to combat the desert locust are concentrated in the regions of Inchiri (west), Dakhlet Nouadhibou (north) and Trarza (southwest).

In October, the FAO reported intensified locust outbreak in Mauritania where adult groups migrated and bred across an 800 km stretch. New hopper groups and a few bands appeared from the second generation of breeding in western Mauritania.

Ecological conditions remain favorable for breeding in Mauritania where hopper groups and bands are expected to continue increasing during the forecast period.

According to FAO Locust Watch, adult groups and small swarms were likely to appear this November. Some adult groups may also appear in Mali, Niger, Chad, Morocco and Algeria.