‘Centre understating locust-hit districts’

Federal govt yet to initiate aerial spraying

KARACHI: The Sindh government has expressed concern over the Centre’s claim of fewer districts being hit by locust swarms than reality, with Sindh Agriculture Minister Ismail Rahoo stating that 22 districts had been affected by the pests in recent weeks.

In a statement on Thursday, Rahoo said that Sindh was expected to face a major locust invasion soon but the Centre was not responding to the provincial government's requests for help.

"The Centre has repeatedly been requested to increase the number of field teams and the availability of aircraft, but its negligence towards this issue of national importance is regrettable," he stated.

Highlighting the threat of breeding of locusts in the monsoon season, he added that rains had started in the province, but the federal government had yet to initiate aerial spraying.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 5^th, 2020.