Urgent help needed to combat Madagascar locust plague
- 11 years ago
ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is calling for urgent emergency funding to combat a plague of locusts in Madagascar.
Locust infestations are threatening the livelihoods of 13 million people in Madagascar, more than half the country's population, the agency said in a statement.
The UN agency is calling for funding totalling 41.5 million US dollars to carry out a three-year emergency programme to address the crisis in the island nation.
More than 22 million U.S. dollars is needed to launch the campaign before June this year. It's hoped that money will prevent at least 1.5 million hectares covering two-thirds of the country from becoming infested by locusts by September, the FAO said.
If untreated, the locust infestations may wipe out food crops and grazing lands and directly affect locals' ability to provide for themselves, FAO added.
Southwestern Madagascar has been particularly badly hit, t
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is calling for urgent emergency funding to combat a plague of locusts in Madagascar.
Locust infestations are threatening the livelihoods of 13 million people in Madagascar, more than half the country's population, the agency said in a statement.
The UN agency is calling for funding totalling 41.5 million US dollars to carry out a three-year emergency programme to address the crisis in the island nation.
More than 22 million U.S. dollars is needed to launch the campaign before June this year. It's hoped that money will prevent at least 1.5 million hectares covering two-thirds of the country from becoming infested by locusts by September, the FAO said.
If untreated, the locust infestations may wipe out food crops and grazing lands and directly affect locals' ability to provide for themselves, FAO added.
Southwestern Madagascar has been particularly badly hit, t