ANKARA, Nov 2 (AFP) - Desert locusts, which have already invaded Cyprus and Lebanon, have arrived on Turkey's southern coast, but officials on Tuesday downplayed any risk of harm to crops.
"We have had sightings of the locusts in four or five villages" in the Mediterranean coastal province of Antalya, Bedrullah Ercin, the head of the local agricultural department, told AFP.
"I do not think they will be very harmful. Temperatures have dropped so I do not believe they will be able to multiply or cause harm to produce," he added.
"We believe the locusts are originally from Morocco and came over via Cyprus," Ercin said.
He said his office would decide whether there was any need to use pesticide against the locusts once the field survey was completed.
"We have similar incidents almost every year. We are used to it and feel no worry," Ercin said.
11/02/2004 14:33 GMT - AFP