Swarms of desert locusts have invaded the palm groves of the Errachidia region in Morocco, threatening the date harvest and the livelihood of hundreds of families. This plague adds to the recurring droughts and rising production costs, jeopardizing the fragile local economy and forcing many farmers to consider migration.
Drones and sensors: technology against locust hunger 🛸
Faced with this crisis, some initiatives propose the use of surveillance drones equipped with multispectral sensors to detect swarms in their early stages. Combined with aerial biopesticide spraying systems, these devices would allow targeting specific hotspots without damaging the crop. However, the lack of investment in digital infrastructure and bureaucracy hinder their large-scale implementation in rural areas like Errachidia.
Dates at a gold price, locusts at a bargain price 😂
Local farmers joke that locusts, at least, do not ask for subsidies or complain about the price of water. While dates are trading at high prices in the markets, these insects feast without paying a cent. If the plague continues, perhaps the next typical dish of the region will be locust salmorejo, which would at least have more protein than caramelized dates.