Jhelum crops face threat of locusts attack

Administration deploys available resources to deal with swarms

JHELUM: The Rawalpindi division was at the risk of locust attack from swarms moving in bordering Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, said Jhelum Deputy Commissioner (DC) Saif Anwar Jappa.

“Jhelum is among high-risk areas for locust attack in coming days,” he said chairing a meeting in his office.

He directed the authorities concerned to make all necessary arrangements to cope with the situation and to run an awareness campaign among the farmers.

Jappa directed officials to ensure the availability of required manpower and machinery to deal with the infestation situation.

He said that some 544 committees were being formed at the village level that would include an agricultural field assistant, enumerator, and representative of peasants from each village who were to be trained by the related officials. DC instructed the assistant commissioners to ascertain the activation of all committees. The participants were also briefed about the use of the mobile application designed for locust reporting.

Jappa emphasised that the administration was required to take measures on war-footings to ensure the protection of assets and properties of the farmers.

Anti-dengue meeting

Further, the DC also reviewed the anti-dengue measures while chairing the meeting of the district emergency response committee.

While addressing the participants, Jappa said that the health teams along with the related departments were expediting the efforts to prevent dengue outbreak in Jhelum.

The official said that the health department was working in accordance with its set targets. Different departments also briefed the participants about their role in the anti-dengue drive.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 7^th, 2020.