The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has succeeded in carrying out exploration and combat operations against desert locusts in all regions of the Kingdom, representing an increase of 172% in the number of areas explored and controlled as compared to the last year.
1.1 million ha area were surveyed during the first half of this year compared to last year, where total area of 411.9 thousand ha were surveyed, and area of 202.18 thousand ha were affected by desert locusts, 201.17 thousand ha of which were treated, accounted for 99.4% of the total affected areas since January 2019 to June 8, 2019.
According to the desert locust survey and control report of the first half of this year, the total area surveyed since the beginning of 2015 until June 8, 2019 was about 2,630,348 ha, where 245,372 ha of which were affected, while 244,203 ha were treated.
The report revealed that the area surveyed during last year were about 411,925 ha, with affected area of about 11,613 ha, and treated area of 11,456 hectares.
The report also revealed that the Kingdom witnessed an increase in the number of survey operations in 2017, as about 665,044 ha were surveyed, and about 11,682 ha were affected and have been fully treated. And that in 2016, about 212,551 ha were surveyed, while about 6430 ha were affected and have been fully treated by 100%.
Moreover, the report confirmed that the area surveyed during the 2015 amounted to 221,944 ha, while the area affected were about 13,463 and were fully treated by 100%.
The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture pointed out that the Locusts Control and Migratory Pests Center is carrying out locusts and migratory pests pre-emptive survey and control operations in all areas targeted for seasonal breeding area. The operations aim to monitor potential invasion of locusts in some areas and limit locusts activity to reduce their damage at the agricultural level and prevent them spreading further to neighboring countries.