Desert Locust situation remains calm

Unusually dry and unfavourable breeding conditions prevailed and locust populations did not increase this year during the winter as a result of poor rainfall for four consecutive months. Consequently, current locust numbers are very low in all areas and this is expected to continue during the spring and summer unless good rains fall.

No locusts were reported in March except for isolated solitarious adults at one location in the central Sahara of Algeria and in one area on the southern coast of Yemen. Light rains commenced in parts of the spring breeding areas in the interior of Saudi Arabia and along both sides of the Iran-Pakistan border.

If more rains fall during the forecast period in these areas and along the southern side of the Atlas Mountains in Morocco and Algeria, then small-scale breeding could occur but locust populations will remain low and no significant developments are likely.