Economic and policy issues in desert locust management: a preliminary analysis
The desert locust is an international transboundary pest, which affects agricultural production and livelihoods in many countries in Africa, the Middle East and southern Asia. Its migratory nature and capacity for rapid population growth present major challenges for control. Studies of the economic and social dimensions of desert locust management started in 1995, recognizing the need to pay attention to issues of sustainability.
This document explores the main economic and associated policy issues in desert locust management based on the currently available information. Even though there eremain many areas for which better data are needed, the results provide a useful indication of the impacts of desert locust and an improved understanding of the interaction between the various environmental, biological and economic factors involved.
It also includes maps for frequencies in plague and decline years as well as in recession and upsurge years in the 1940-1969 period.
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