Locusts attacking crops in Sukkur, Khairpur, Shikarpur

SUKKUR: The swarms of desert locust formed along both sides of the Indo-Pakistan border appear to be moving to the west towards Balochistan in Pakistan and Iran, the FAO stated in its Desert Locust situation update stated.

The FAO (Food and Agricultural Organisation) warns some of the swarms may threaten agriculture areas in the Indus Valley. According to FAO, some groups and swarms have started to leave the summer breeding areas along the Indo-Pakistan border. On 10 November, a swarm flew over Karachi, Pakistan, moving from east to west. Low numbers of mature adults were reported in Balochistan while small groups of immature and mature adults were seen during the first two weeks of the month at eight different places in adjacent areas of southeast Iran.

Meanwhile, huge swarms of locusts are attacking crops in Sukkur, Khairpur and Shikarpur, sparking fears of large-scale crop devastation in the barrage areas.

Many areas of Sukkur have reported the presence of locusts that are threatening agricultural crops. The growers complain that the spray proved ineffective as the pest is damaging their crop of wheat, cotton and sugar cane. Earlier, a swarm of locusts invaded Nara town and Mirpurkhas division and devoured mature crops causing heavy losses to the local farming community.

In Pakistan, 12 000 ha were treated on 1–10 November in Cholistan, Nara and Tharparkar deserts of which 400 ha were by air. Vegetation remains green in most places due to a late-ending monsoon.