September 09, 2007	Sunday	Sha'aban 26, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Sept 8: The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations has warned that a swarm of desert locusts could enter the Pakistani and Indian territories next week following the deterioration of the situation in Yemen.

The desert locust situation worsened in Yemen recently as immature swarms formed in the interior regions of Hadhramaut and Al-Mahara moved into the central highlands. This could pose a threat to Pakistan and India.Desert locusts have been threatening agricultural production in Africa, the Middle East and Asia for centuries. The livelihood of at least one-tenth of the world’s human population can be affected by this hungry insect.

“The present situation could lead to a significant increase in locusts in the region during the coming months, first in the summer breeding areas, then in the winter breeding areas on the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden coasts,” states a report of the FAO.

Heavy rains in the past month have caused flooding in the interior of Sudan and western Eritrea. This will allow breeding conditions to become favourable and consequently, locust population will increase in the coming months in the traditional summer breeding areas in both countries

“Countries should take immediate steps to monitor these areas and carry out control operations as required. Some of these activities may need additional assistance from the international community,” the organisation has warned.

However, the FAO has assessed that threats to India and Pakistan may be over after the next week.

Swarms are still forming in the interior of Yemen where most of them are expected to move west to Shabwah, Marib and Al-Jawf regions, mature and lay eggs in the coming weeks. Hence, another generation of breeding could occur in the interior which will cause locust numbers to increase further, an FAO forecast shows.

The swarms may reach the coastal plains of the Red Sea in Yemen and Saudi Arabia where rains have been falling for the past three months.