Cairo: Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Alaa Farouk emphasized the state's high priority on locust control as a crucial element in safeguarding agricultural lands and ensuring food security. The minister highlighted Egypt's dedication to ongoing collaboration with international organizations to exchange expertise and implement the latest technologies, following a comprehensive strategy based on proactive measures and constant vigilance.
According to State Information Service Egypt, during a meeting with Mamoun Alawi, Executive Secretary of the Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Central Region at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Minister Farouk discussed enhancing joint cooperation and developing mechanisms to combat transboundary pests. He mentioned that operations rooms under the General Administration of Locust Affairs are operational around the clock, equipped with the necessary logistical support and pesticides.
Farouk noted that coordination with the Desert Locust Control Organization is crucial to protect the region from locust invasions. He also mentioned the integration of remote sensing technologies and artificial intelligence into predictive maps to forecast locust movements by analyzing climate and environmental data precisely.
Mamoun Alawi praised Egypt's significant contribution to regional food security and commended the country's leadership in locust control. He highlighted Egypt's role as a model for Africa and the Middle East, owing to its strong infrastructure and expertise, which enable it to spearhead regional efforts in this domain.
The meeting also addressed the development of an electronic data-sharing system for tracking locust swarms to facilitate faster responses. It emphasized intensifying specialized training programs to enhance the skills of engineers and technicians, transferring Egyptian expertise to member countries, maintaining transparency in field reporting to support regional decision-making, and promoting joint field visits to review advanced logistical methods in monitoring and control operations.