By NNN-SABA
Sana’a : Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is organizing aerial operations to combat locust in Yemen.
The operations are planned to commence in mid-July and will be carried out against hopper bands and adult swarms in order to minimize the threat to crops, pasture and neighboring countries, the organization said.
The operation would be supported by the UN Emergency Fund and assistance from Japan and the World Food Programme, the website of the organization said.
The organization said in its statement that the Desert Locust situation is extremely serious in the interior of Yemen where substantial breeding has taken place because of unusually heavy rains that fell over a large and remote area on the southern edge of the Empty Quarter.
According to the FAO statement, second generation of egg-laying is in progress and hatching has already started in a few places. More hatching will occur and hopper bands will form in the coming weeks.
Recent surveys have found additional infestations in some remote wadis in the Hadhramaut region. Breeding is also in progress in Shabwah governorate.