Locust attacks destroy crops on large scale in Sindh, Punjab

SINDH, PUNJAB: Locusts attacked and harshly damaged cotton, mango and other crops in different cities of Sindh and southern Punjab, sparking fears of a looming food shortage in case the government fails to tackle the situation.

The farmers have blamed the Agriculture Department for not taking concrete measures to save their crops from the attack of locusts. Locals said crops standing on hundreds of acre were destroyed by the swarms of grasshoppers in several villages.

Sources informed that the area people are trying to get rid of the locusts on their own in order to save their crops from being damaged.

According to sources, the locust attack cotton, mango and other crops in different areas of Rajanpur, Multan, district Muzaffargarh and Kandhkot.

Sources further informed locusts attacked trees situated in parks and at sidewalks at the Qasim Bela, Old Shujabad road, Cantt, Chowk Shah Abbas, Vehari Road and Pull Bararan areas of Multan.

Mango, cotton and other crops were damaged by the locust attack In Rajanpur, sources added. In Muzaffargarh, locusts attacked crops and mango orchards in Lutkaran, Doaaba, Chak Rohari, Lalpur, Sanki, Chak Mathan, and adjacent areas.

To effectively eliminate locusts, farmers have pleaded the concerned officials to spray crops from airplanes instead of spraying only certain areas.

Locals said locusts destroyed rice saplings, grass and trees in Kandhkot. Locals in the city demanded the officials to conduct aerial spray to ensure the protection of food crops.

Earlier, the Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah had sought the federal government’s assistance against the looming threat of a locust attack.

The chief minister has raised the issue in a letter to the Prime Minister Imran Khan about a massive locust attack expected around May 15th. He said that the federal government must show seriousness in tackling the locust threat.

On 6 March, Shah had asked for prime minister’s attention towards fumigation campaign against the advancing locust. However, he said despite assurances no cooperation has been extended to the province so far.

Murad Ali Shah warned that the crops in the province could come under huge damage if the spray campaign was not initiated in the province instantly and said he urgently required six aircraft and pesticides for aerial spray in the affected areas.

Referring the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization forecast, the Sindh CM said that the locust attack in 2020 would be much harsher as compared to the last year 2019.

According to Murad Ali Shah, over 990,000 acres of desert land were invaded by  locusts last year, while crops on over 160,000 acres of land were destroyed.