Locusts wreck orchards, fields in South Punjab

Farmers demand compensation for affected areas

MULTAN: Locusts have destroyed the crops of cotton, sesame, sugarcane, and mango orchards in Layyah, Khanewal, Rahim Yar Khan and parts of other areas of south Punjab, including Multan.

The locusts have also destroyed the green shrubs and wild plants left in the oasis of Cholistan.

Farmers are unhappy with the government’s measures to eradicate locusts. They themselves are busy beating drums and lighting fires to stop locust attacks.

Locust attack poses famine risk

The farmers demanded that the government announce compensation for the affected areas.

Sources revealed that locusts are present in large numbers in Sahi Chawan, Band Bosan, Jhok Vens, Mitti Til and the suburbs of Multan.

They are damaging cotton, watermelon, mango and green fodder plants. The farmers are extremely distressed over the losses faced by them due to the attacks of locusts.

Meanwhile, teams from the agriculture department are busy spraying pesticides to eradicate locusts. The Department of Agriculture stated that when locusts gather, the area is sprayed to eliminate them. It said that the locusts are now looking for desert areas for breeding.

The locusts entered Multan from Chowk Sarwar Shaheed and Khanewal areas.

Meanwhile, locusts have destroyed the crops in more than 20 locations of Jalalpur Pirwala (Bahadurpur) Tehsil of Multan, including Abu Saeed, Bellewala, Kanhun, Bahadurpur, Depal, Motha, Betwahi and other areas. They destroyed cotton and other crops, as well as grass.

The helpless farmers kept on beating drums, burning fires and making noises but millions of locusts ate everything in a matter of minutes.

Sindh asks Centre for aircraft for locust spraying

In the form of two swarms, the locusts moved from the Sutlej River to Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan.

Locusts coming from Sindh, Balochistan and Rajanpur are swarming in groups on Rahim Yar Khan and its suburbs.

Locust attacks also continued in Bhong, Rahimabad, Nawazabad, Chowk Shahbazpur, Chowk Mahi and other areas. In these areas, cotton, sugarcane as well as mango orchards are a target for locusts.

They ate the leaves of the trees in the mango orchards and also destroyed the Kharif season's cultivated crops of cotton and fodder.

Farmers have been protesting over the damage caused by the locusts’ attack and are demanding an intensification of the spray campaign.

Their representatives demanded the government and the district administration should use all available resources to control locusts on an emergency basis because of fears of declining fruit and agricultural production due to locust attacks on crops.

Moreover, farmers are already burdened with debt due to poor harvests. They are demanding immediate compensation from the government.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 29^th, 2020.