TUNIS, Nov.8 - Maghreban agriculture ministers
have called for support to the anti-locusts action plan drafted by the
Arab Maghreb Union, a north African grouping mustering Algeria, Libya,
Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia.
The ministers, who met over the week
end in Gammarth (suburbs of Tunis), called the UMA secretariat general
to carry on its moves with the European Union to incite it to bring an
assistance for the implementation of the anti-locust action plan. They
also stressed the need to carry on efforts and consolidate national capacities
with additional material and human means.
An urgent appeal was further launched for the implementation of the emergency plan to ward off the spread of swarms during the winter season, particularly in north Mauritania.
Research institutions of the five countries need to endeavor to analyse the locust situation in the region in order to craft more efficient control means, said the ministers adding that the FAO should also continue its efforts to expeditiously obtain financial support to the UMA countries from other regional and international organizations and donor countries.
Following the session held in the presence of the UMA secretary general, Habib Boulares, the FAO delegates and representatives from the commission for the struggle against locusts in the western region and from the European Delegation in Europe, Moroccan minsister of agriculture, rural development and sea fisheries, Mohand Laenser, stressed that the hopper situation in Morocco is under control, but called for vigilance.
After underscoring the significant means set forth by the kingdom which allocated US$ 50 million and processed 650,000 ha, the official said "for the moment damages are not very important" adding "we have to follow the situation, which is quite serious very closely".
After insisting on the need to conduct early surveillance of locust breeding areas and targeted control campaigns in order to break the reproduction cycle, the Moroccan official stressed that international assistance should go directly and essentially to Mauritania, where the FAO has warned of "a particularly critical in Mauritania, where locusts continue to destroy crops and where the damage could get worse."
For the FAO sub-region representative, Mustapha Sinaceur, said the pest control efforts should be continued in order to save crops and break the reproduction cycle, voicing his organization's readiness to do its utmost to support national hopper control operations.
The FAO has conducted crop assessment mission in nine countries, and has decided to revive the center of emergency anti-locust operations which will be in direct contact with donors, risk countries and competent organizations.
He added that the Rome-based FAO has earmarked US$ 6 million for the financing of national and regional assistance programs and, has so far received only US$ 52.4 million out of the US$ 100 million needed.
© MAP 2004