WB grants 10 mln USD to Madagascar to tackle locust plague

ANTANANARIVO, July 4 (Xinhua) -- The World Bank (WB) granted 10 million U. S. dollars to Madagascar to tackle the locust plague in the Indian Ocean island country, a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture said on Thursday.

"The Fund agreement was already signed in Rome, but the official signing of the agreement will be done here next week," the statement quoted Minister of Agriculture Rolland Ravatomanga as saying.

The minister said the management of the fund will be held jointly by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Madagascan Ministry of Agriculture.

In total, with this money from the WB, the ministry has 16 million dollars out of 22 million dollars needed for the fight against locust next month.

According to FAO, two-thirds of Madagascar will be affected by locusts by September, threatening the food security and livelihood of 60 percent of the county's 13 million population.

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