The Southern African region is unlikely to be affected by the locust outbreak that has devastated parts of East Africa, a government research organisation says. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the situation in East Africa is “extremely serious” and an “unprecedented threat” to the food security and livelihoods of those in the Horn of Africa. “This has become a situation of international dimensions that threatens the food security of the entire subregion,” FAO director-general Qu Dongyu said last week. Devastating swarmsIf the outbreak is not controlled and conditions remain favourable for breeding, it could reach 30 countries in Africa and Asia, the UN said. A desert locust adult — the most devastating of all locust species — can consume about its own weight in fresh food a day — that is about 2g.

Source: The North Africa Journal February 03, 2020 03:00 UTC