Madagascar’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock has announced an ambitious initiative to combat the devastating effects of locust infestations, targeting 600,000 hectares of land for treatment in 2025.
This vital campaign is aimed at protecting crops, preserving pasturelands, and ensuring the island nation’s food security.
The ministry’s efforts come in response to increasing locust invasions, which have been wreaking havoc on Madagascar’s agricultural sector.
These swarms of locusts are known to devastate large swaths of farmland, threatening the livelihoods of local farmers and undermining food production.
To tackle the crisis, the government has meticulously prepared all the necessary resources for the upcoming treatment campaign.
These include aircraft for aerial pesticide spraying, ground teams for monitoring and direct intervention, and carefully selected pesticides that have minimal environmental impact.
In addition to the immediate measures for 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture is developing a comprehensive five-year plan, spanning from 2024 to 2028, in collaboration with international partners.
This long-term strategy aims to curb the recurring locust invasions and provide sustainable solutions for pest control.
The locust threat has already affected approximately 270,000 hectares of crops and pasturelands in the southern and southwestern regions of Madagascar, with devastating consequences for farmers and herders.
This proactive campaign is a crucial step towards stabilizing Madagascar’s agricultural sector and ensuring the nation’s self-sufficiency in food production, which has been under increasing pressure due to the recurrent locust outbreaks.
With targeted action and global cooperation, the government hopes to secure a more resilient agricultural future for the island.
