Islamabad, August 13, 2020 (PPI-OT): Anti-locust operation is carried out in Tharparkar and Lasbella. This was stated by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Syed Fakhar Imam while chairing the meeting of National Locusts Control Centre (NLCC) on Friday. Lieutenant General Moazzam Ejaz, Coordinator NLCC also co-chaired the meeting. Till now 49598500 Hectares (HA) have been surveyed and 1106600 HA have been treated.
Trenching is done in Tharparkar for bio-compost with a view to promoting organic farming in the country. The pilot testing of the project is carried out in Thar, and if 10 per cent of population in the area becomes active, the ministry of national food security and research expects a force of 222,000 people in local community would be available to combat the attack of desert locusts. Rs 25 per kg will be given. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) mentioned that Kenya and Saudi Arabia are interested in institutionalizing the locust base information. FAO shared its locust forecast.
As per the forecast, in Pakistan, control operations continue against hopper groups and bands in southeast Sindh near Nagarparkar and the India border. Low numbers of adults are present in Cholistan and Lasbela where breeding will occur. In India, only a few spring-breed adult groups and swarms remain in northern Rajasthan as most of the first-generation laying has finished. As a result, widespread hatching and the formation of hopper groups and bands is underway. Control operations continue. During the briefing it was told that Pakistan is well prepared to take any threat and is ready to deal with any kind of scenario.
For threat from Horn of Africa (HoA), NLCC will not lower its guards. Locust can be trapped through Integrated Pest Management (IPM). SUPARCO mentioned that it is working on crop damage assessment and Swarm Movement Model. SUPARCO is making an app on basis of e locust. Pakistan Meteorological Department mentioned that more monsoon currents are expected to penetrate in Sindh from Friday (evening) to Sunday under the influence of this system. Scattered rain/wind-thundershower, with few/isolated heavy falls, are expected in Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Shaheed Benazirabad, Tharparkar, Mirpurkhas, Umar Kot, Sanghar and Mithi from Friday (evening/night) to Sunday.
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