Anti-locust operation completed over 2.6m acres

Anti-locust operations have been carried out in 10,947.07 square kilometres, approximately 2.592 million acres across 31 affected districts of the country in order to eradicate the hopper, the National Locust Control Centre (NLCC) said on a statement on Monday.

The statement said that 966 joint teams of the Ministry of National Food Security, provincial agriculture departments and the Pakistan Army, comprising over 5,664 people, took part in the anti-locusts operations across the country.

The joint teams were conducting a comprehensive survey and control operation against the locusts in different districts and so far, 394,701.67 square kilometres – 90.75 million acres – had been surveyed. About 648 vehicles took part in the anti-locust operation, the NLCC data said.

In Punjab, about 238,054 acres had been surveyed during last 24 hours and the control operation was carried out in the affected areas. More than 2,282 people and 323 vehicles took part in the exercise, it added. So far, the survey was completed over an area of approximately 20.90 million acres and anti-locust operation carried out on 1,131,347 acres.

In Sindh, the survey was conducted over 96,880 acres and the locust presence was confirmed in six districts, while anti-locust operation was carried out on 6,326 acres. More than 97 vehicles and 627 people, including the Pakistan Army personnel, participated in the campaign. So far, the survey was completed on 20.03 million acres, with locust control operation carried out on area of 159,919 acres.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 175,976 acres of land was surveyed with the help of 847 people and 106 vehicles during the last 24 hours. So far, an area of 10.50 million acres had been surveyed, with locust control operation on 154,527 acres.

In Balochistan, during the last 24 hours 251,563 hectares of land was surveyed, with infestation confirmed in 25 districts, including Khuzdar, Awaran, Noshki, Chaghi, Washhak, Quetta, Dara Bugti, Ziarat, Othal, Kharran, Panjgourr and Kharran and others. The locust control operation was carried over 1,893 acres with over 1,308 people and 119 vehicles. So far, 30.532 million acres of land had been surveyed with anti-locust operation on 1,146,606 acres.

In addition to aerial spraying with the help of planes and helicopters, non-conventional methods were also being used for effective control of locust during control operations, the NLCC said.

With input from APP