Pests Worsen Effect of Drought in Madagascar

A drought sweeping Madagascar has been aggravated by a wave of pests including grasshoppers and rats, and the Indian Ocean island could be threatened with famine this year, Agriculture Ministry sources said Wednesday.

Very little rain has fallen for the last three months, despite efforts to produce rain artificially by seeding clouds. The country may have to import rice to make up for production losses. Rice is the staple food of Madagascar’s 10 million population.