Agriculture Ministry Spokesperson Mohamed el Qirsh underlined the ministry is taking all needed precautionary measures against locusts since the beginning of the winter season amid mounting warnings by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) that an outbreak of locusts in the Horn of Africa may soon spread to other countries.

 

The organization described in a statement Friday that the Horn of Africa is witnessing the worst invasion of desert locusts in 25 years, which poses an unprecedented threat to food security in the entire sub region.

 

In statements to MENA on Tuesday, Qersh said locust swarms have not invaded Egypt, but small numbers were detected and exterminated.

 

Locust invasion has a negative impact on agricultural crops, he expounded, noting that the ministry secured all needed safe pesticides.

 

He noted that there are 55 observatories nationwide for monitoring locusts and daily reports are issued in this respect.

MENA