Swarm of locusts reaches Peshawar suburbs

Voracious little beasts are part of larger swarm scattered over DI Khan

PESHAWAR: After causing considerable damage and devastation to crops in the southern districts of the province, a scattered swarm of locusts have descended upon the suburbs of the provincial capital.

Peshawar District Plant Protection Department Deputy Director Sajid Khan on Saturday said that although the locusts have reached the barren lands in Mattani area near the provincial capital they have assigned teams to do conduct spraying in the area. The deputy director inspected the field operation assigned to tackle the locust infestation.

Sajid said the locust swarm attack was not severe and could be contained easily. The locust that arrived in the area was part of a swarm which has scattered from DI Khan and its adjoining areas.

The agriculturalist hoped that if this swam is contained and eliminated, 90 per cent of locust problem could be resolved in the province.

He said agriculture department’s teams were also busy in spraying different areas where pests was reported including Karak, DI Khan and FR Kohat areas.

Sajid said team of Plant Projection Department was busy in countering the attack of locust and spending time in field despite threats of coronavirus infection.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 19^th, 2020.