Özet:

Abstract enLocust swarms from North Africa reached Ottoman lands almost periodically, creating substantial damage in agriculture and livestock.  The state was obliged to renounce collecting the taxes, and in some cases financially supported the farmers who suffered from locust damage. It was not only the people but also the state that was bereaved. Before the Second Constitution proclaimed in 1908, there was no co-ordinated combat against the locust invasions. As of 1912, the Ottoman administration acted in a relatively better organized manner, issued regulations and resorted to all available technical means at its disposal. Thus, during World War I, when Western Anatolia was plagued by the locusts, the Empire actually opened a new front staffed with labour battalions and was relatively successful in fighting the invasion. Since it was impossible to implement efficient measures in the deserts which constituted the source of the locusts, despite control efforts in these sources of locusts, a threat of an invasion remained.

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