Locusts, irregular rains ruin Bhakkar’s crops
Locust swarms threaten new cultivation, including sunflower and cotton
PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
BHAKKAR:
Crops on thousands of acres of land in Thal area of Mankara tehsil, Bhakkar district, have been irreparably damaged due to locust attacks, unseasonal rains and the lack of proper farming activities during the coronavirus pandemic.
The affected areas account for about half of the region's crops.
New crops cultivated by thousands of farmers in the district on millions of acres of land, including sunflower, cotton, peanuts, guavas, maize, and trees and fodder are also under the threat of locusts.
The farmers are deeply troubled by the situation as the number of locusts reached millions due to reproduction and their attacks have badly damaged the crops.
Among 15 districts affected in Punjab, desert locusts have hit Bhakkar the most. As Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Bazdar showed special interest in the region, a grand operation was launched against locusts on an emergency basis, under the supervision of Bhakkar Deputy Commissioner Syed Musa Raza. Reportedly, modern agricultural equipment and heavy machinery were used, while 12 teams were formed, consisting of 100 people, from 10 provincial departments.
The teams were joined by 150 personnel of the armed forces. Temporary camps were set up in the locust-affected areas and all responsible persons were fully mobilised to eradicate locusts.
As a result of joint field operation of district administration and Pakistan Army, the largest affected area sprawling to 13,186 hectares was protected from locusts.
The area of Thal, from where the locusts started attacking crops, had now been completely cleared of locusts. In this regard the deputy commissioner told The Express Tribune that the eradication of locusts before the grand operation was a major challenge.
Following expert opinion, in collaboration with Pakistan Army and provincial departments, teams had conducted night operations to make the area safe from locusts, he added. “This was a very extraordinary performance for which I am especially thankful to the teams for making the operation a success.”
The 13,186 hectares of cultivated crops, orchards and fodder had been secured, the DC further said.
He elaborated that the areas of four tehsils of Bhakkar district, namely Klorkot, Mankera, Darya Khan and Bhakkar, where locusts were still present in small numbers, will be cleared soon through another grand operation.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 24th, 2020.
Crops on thousands of acres of land in Thal area of Mankara tehsil, Bhakkar district, have been irreparably damaged due to locust attacks, unseasonal rains and the lack of proper farming activities during the coronavirus pandemic.
The affected areas account for about half of the region's crops.
New crops cultivated by thousands of farmers in the district on millions of acres of land, including sunflower, cotton, peanuts, guavas, maize, and trees and fodder are also under the threat of locusts.
The farmers are deeply troubled by the situation as the number of locusts reached millions due to reproduction and their attacks have badly damaged the crops.
Among 15 districts affected in Punjab, desert locusts have hit Bhakkar the most. As Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Bazdar showed special interest in the region, a grand operation was launched against locusts on an emergency basis, under the supervision of Bhakkar Deputy Commissioner Syed Musa Raza. Reportedly, modern agricultural equipment and heavy machinery were used, while 12 teams were formed, consisting of 100 people, from 10 provincial departments.
The teams were joined by 150 personnel of the armed forces. Temporary camps were set up in the locust-affected areas and all responsible persons were fully mobilised to eradicate locusts.
As a result of joint field operation of district administration and Pakistan Army, the largest affected area sprawling to 13,186 hectares was protected from locusts.
The area of Thal, from where the locusts started attacking crops, had now been completely cleared of locusts. In this regard the deputy commissioner told The Express Tribune that the eradication of locusts before the grand operation was a major challenge.
Following expert opinion, in collaboration with Pakistan Army and provincial departments, teams had conducted night operations to make the area safe from locusts, he added. “This was a very extraordinary performance for which I am especially thankful to the teams for making the operation a success.”
The 13,186 hectares of cultivated crops, orchards and fodder had been secured, the DC further said.
He elaborated that the areas of four tehsils of Bhakkar district, namely Klorkot, Mankera, Darya Khan and Bhakkar, where locusts were still present in small numbers, will be cleared soon through another grand operation.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 24th, 2020.