Rahu promises elimination of locusts within two weeks

Sindh govt to release Rs350m for insect control operation; blames Centre for delays

HYDERABAD: Belatedly arising to the threat of and the devastation done by locusts, the Sindh government has announced the release of Rs350 million for an insect control operation with the promise of getting rid of the pests in a fortnight. Sindh agriculture minister Ismail Rahu told a press conference in Hyderabad on Friday that locusts have attacked over 675,000 acres of land, including more than 100,000 acres of agricultural land, in the province in the past six months.

"The district administrations in the province have been asked to conduct surveys of affected areas, which will be declared drought-stricken. The government will later decide what relief can be provided to the affected farmers," said the minister, assuring the farmers that the Pakistan Peoples Party-led (PPP) Sindh government will not leave them in the lurch.

Locusts head back after destroying crops

Rahu claimed that the provincial government has carried out anti-pesticide ground spray on 44,000 acres of the infested agricultural land and on 230,000 acres out of 575,000 acres of desert land. Separately, the federal department of plant protection (DPP) has conducted aerial spray sorties, covering 17,654 acres of land.

According to him, 40 teams of the Sindh agriculture extension department and 18 joint teams of the department and DPP are engaged in the operation. He told that 15 more teams are set to join the campaign.

The minister blamed the federal government for its delayed cooperation and for keeping certain functions of the agricultural ministry that should have been devolved to the provinces after the 18th Amendment. "When the locust invasion began on May 29, Sindh government contacted the Centre but we didn't get a response. We later approached the DPP but we were told that the department lacks funds for fuel and spray and that only three planes among its fleet of 20 are able to fly."

He said that the province released Rs10 million to the DPP but it provided only one plane for aerial sprays. However, he added that one more plane would be provided to the province shortly and a third one after a few days.

"The provincial government wants to ensure the complete eradication of locusts and their breeding before the next monsoon rains." According to him, Tharparkar, Umerkot, Nawabshah, Sanghar, Sukkur and Larkana are the most affected districts.

Responding to a question about the delay in the government notification of the sugarcane crushing season, the minister said the notification will be issued in a few days. He told that at least four of the province's sugar mills, which number over 30, have already started crushing. Under the Sindh Sugar Factories Control Act, the government is supposed to notify crushing and fix rates of the sugarcane by October every year. 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 7^th, 2019.