Gov’t ensures Jordan is locust-free, precautionary measures in place

AMMAN — The Agriculture Ministry on Tuesday announced the completion of precautionary and safety locust-control measures in light of reports on swarms of the insect entering Jordan.

The ministry said that the second wave of locust swarms entered the Kingdom in small numbers as the destructive insects have been previously combated in the affected areas: Abourah and Dana.

The results showed that Jordan is free of locusts, and there are no new swarms approaching the Kingdom, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The ministry on Sunday announced the elimination of a locust swarm that entered the Kingdom from its south-eastern borders with Saudi Arabia, and added that larger swarms were expected to hit the country’s south.

The prevalence of south-easterly winds this week created favourable conditions for desert locust swarms to move towards Jordan, according to ministry’s spokesperson Lawrence Majali.

The ministry has announced a state of emergency, he said.

Sunday morning, a Royal Air Force plane sprayed pesticides over the affected areas to eliminate the first locust swarm that hit the country’s “Mnawekh” area, 30 kilometres to the east of Jafer, in the south-eastern part of the Kingdom.

Minister of Agriculture Ibrahim Shahahdeh also said in a press statement on Sunday that the swarms covered an area of 9sq.km. and “was eliminated”.