Locust Plague Strikes Bolivia, Damages Crops

Bolivian President Evo Morales on Wednesday said he would allocate US$771,332 dollars to combat a locust plague that has already damaged more than 1,000 hectares of crops in the southern Bolivian province of Santa Cruz, the country's main agricultural region.

Farmers, Santa Cruz authorities and Bolivia's National Service of Agricultural Health and Food Safety are in the area to implement a contingency plan to control the pest in the affected areas.

The crops affected by the pest are corn, sorghum, peanut, grazing livestock and to a lesser extent, soybeans, according to the Eastern Agricultural Chamber.

Local media reported that authorities fear the locusts could spread within a radius of 6.2 miles per day and therefore decided to fund strong pesticide efforts to defeat the locusts.

Pest control staff were seen in the area preparing pesticides which were then sprayed over affected areas using a light aircraft.

Morales said he would visit the affected area on Friday to supervise the work as he announced the phytosanitary emergency and allocation of government funds.