According to the FAO Locust Plague Control Progress Report issued by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the second round of locust plague may arrive at the key moment of crop harvest, and grain crisis has not been eliminated yet. Facing multiple challenges including COVID-19 and locust plague, FAO will insist on monitoring and prevention actions. 

The report shows the desert locust plague prevention campaign launched by FAO in January covers 10 countries in Asia and Africa. With help of the organization, over 36500ha. land and 720,000t grain in the ten countries are free from desert locust invasion. The 720,000t grain is enough for 5 million people in aforesaid ten countries for one year. Moreover, 350,000 herdsmen avoid locust disaster due to the action of FAO.

Earlier, the Global Report on Food Crises released jointly by FAO and other institutions predicts over 25 million people in East Africa will face unsafe grains in the second half year of 2020. Under the impact of desert locust, COVID-19, extreme weather and regional conflicts, the grain safety status among vulnerable groups in East Africa will be further deteriorated. The COVID-19 pandemic may lead to global supply chain interruption, which may bring extreme risks for global grain safety.