Locust Swarms Threaten Crops in Southern Morocco, Farmers Seek Government Aid

The situation is particularly critical in Tata, in the Souss-Massa region, where the locusts have not only attacked the crops, but have also invaded the houses. Faced with the situation, the farmers are asking the authorities to take urgent measures to eradicate the scourge and prevent the destruction of the vegetation and agricultural crops in the region.

For their part, the authorities have scheduled pesticide spraying sessions using planes in several regions of southeastern Morocco, in anticipation of the invasion of locusts. The regions of Figuig, Bouarfa, Bouanane, Boudnib, Errachidia, Ouarzazate, Zagora, M’Hamid El Ghizlane, Tata, Fam El Hisn and Smara are concerned.

The agricultural cooperatives, for their part, have stressed the need to protect livestock and beehives before spraying pesticides. In recent months, the Sahel and North Africa regions have experienced an unprecedented wave of locust invasions that have devastated crops in Libya, Tunisia and Algeria, causing concern among farmers and environmental authorities.