ALGIERS, Dec 11 (AFP) - Algeria has spent almost 170 million euros (225 million dollars) since 2003 dealing with swarms of locusts which have infested its farmland, Agriculture Minister Said Barkat said on Saturday.
And addressing a meeting of businessmen from Algeria and Mozambique here he warned "worse is to come from February and March".
Western and northern African countries have suffered one of the worst invasions by the pests on record over the past weeks, with giant swarms pushed by winds descending on farm land.
Barkat said some 950,000 hectares (2.3 million acres) of land infested by the pests had been dealt with so far in Algeria.
The invasion has prompted Algeria and neighbouring Mauritania to pool forces to fight what they say is an unprecedented situation in the region.
bb/jmy/gk AFP 111924 GMT 12 04
Copyright (c) 2004 Agence France-Presse
Received by NewsEdge Insight: 12/11/2004 14:25:32