The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on Monday warned that an ongoing severe locust plague in Madagascar was threatening the country's next cropping seasons and the food security of more than half the country's population.

FAO said on its official website that more than 22 million dollars was needed for emergency funding in Madagascar by June to start fighting the plague, adding that a three-year strategy should be set, which requires an additional 19 million dollars.

"Failure to respond now will lead to massive food aid requirements later on," said Dominique Burgeon, Director of the FAO Emergency and Rehabilitation Division. FAO estimates that about two-thirds of Madagascar will be affected by the locust plague by September 2013 if no action is taken.

The plague now threatens 60 percent of Madagascar's rice production, which is the main staple in the island country in the Indian Ocean, where 80 percent of the population lives on less than a dollar per day.

In the poorest southern regions, where the plague started, around 70 percent of households are food insecure.

According to the FAO, the emergency funding has to arrive in time to allow FAO, together with the Madagascan Ministry of Agriculture, to launch a full-scale spraying campaign in the country. Endi

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