KARACHI:
Desert locust attacks in the subcontinental region have contributed significantly to the ongoing economic crisis. The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimates that if the threat is not immediately curtailed, the agricultural losses to Pakistan from the infestation could be as high as $2.2 billion for winter crops alone.
To get to the bottom of the threat, the FAO released a comprehensive report on the migratory pattern of desert locust in South West Asia and its impact on Pakistan. The report titled ‘Desert locust situation in Pakistan’ concluded that 38% of the country – 60% in Balochistan, 25% in Sindh and 15% in Punjab – is currently serving as a favourable breeding ground for desert locusts. Favorable weather conditions allowed the locusts to travel outside their typical territory, into countries that lack the resources to effectively combat the outbreak. Locust swarms, now being considered as one of the worst plagues to hit Pakistan in nearly three decades, come with a high probability of total wipeout across a significant acreage of crops. This wipeout will make the financial situations worse for companies already struggling to steer through Covid-19.
Pakistan, Iran, and India should park politics aside and join hands to tackle this problem collectively. A comprehensive pest control system has now become a requisite for the affected countries.
