The Alaotra region’s rice production threatened by the pending invasion of locusts

The population of Ambatondrazaka and those of its surroundings have been insistently urging the government to address this issue. Could the migrating locusts keep out of any decent control, they would wreck havoc on a significant part of this region’s rice production, considering the harvest has not yet started in this area. Ambatondrazaka and its vicinities have always been building some of the leading major rice barns to the whole island. Local producers may have fears by rights, bearing in mind that the invasion of migrating locusts has been devastating several areas of the country over the latest months with little efficient opposition to face up to. A short time ago, the inhabitants of capital city’ suburbs had to deal with its vanguards when they expected it the least. All around Antananarivo city, rice harvests are a done deal. They are however nowhere near to be so all across the Alaotra region. From a 50 000 Ha large cultivated area, this key region produces every year more than 150 000 tons of rice, potentially at the locusts’ mercy