The fight against locusts cost Morocco $80 million, according to Moroccan Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries Minister, Mohand Laensar.
In an interview published by the Moroccan daily Aujourd’hui le Maroc, Laensar said that 2.5 million hectares have been treated so far.
According to him, the amount of 9 million Euro which the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) had directed to fight locusts is “very weak if we take into account all that is needed” to address this problem.
He added that Morocco’s efforts focus on stopping the advance of swarms farther than the Atlas, and preventing them from reaching sensitive agricultural zones. (menareport.com)
© 2004 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
