FAO warns of increased locust risk due to unusual rainfall on Indo-Pak boarder

ISLAMABAD: The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), a subsidiary of the United Nations, has warned that above-normal rainfall is expected in the Indo-Pak border areas in late September and the last week of October this month.

The report issued by the FAO said that these unusual rainfalls could create favorable conditions for locusts, especially as limited breeding is likely to continue in October, which will end in November.

The report also said that the weather will remain dry in most areas during October-November, mainly due to the negative Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). Conditions are also predicted to remain dry in December and January, however, above-normal or normal rainfall is expected in areas of southwest Pakistan and southeast Iran in February and March, which could again lead to an increase in locust breeding.

According to the report, there is also a possibility of locust breeding in the northern Sahara coast, Sudan and the Arab region by the end of September, which will decrease in November, but may intensify again during December to March.

The weather forecasts made by the FAO and the World Climate Service are based specifically on the spring, summer and winter breeding areas of the locust, which are based on sub-seasonal models.

The organization has recommended that relevant authorities take preventive measures to deal with possible locust attacks.