ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)<br/> <br />The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is calling for urgent emergency funding to combat a plague of locusts in Madagascar.<br/> <br />Locust infestations are threatening the livelihoods of 13 million people in Madagascar, more than half the country's population, the agency said in a statement.<br/> <br />The UN agency is calling for funding totalling 41.5 million US dollars to carry out a three-year emergency programme to address the crisis in the island nation.<br/> <br />More than 22 million U.S. dollars is needed to launch the campaign before June this year. It's hoped that money will prevent at least 1.5 million hectares covering two-thirds of the country from becoming infested by locusts by September, the FAO said.<br/> <br />If untreated, the locust infestations may wipe out food crops and grazing lands and directly affect locals' ability to provide for themselves, FAO added.<br/> <br />Southwestern Madagascar has been particularly badly hit, t
