Locust Attack: 500,000 hectares sprayed during control operations

As Pakistan may be on verge of losing billions worth of agricultural crops in the summer season due to locust attack, about 500,000 hectares sprayed during ongoing locust control operations.

National Locust Control Center (NLCC) released the details. According to NLCC The joint teams formed to control and mitigate the locust attack had conducted survey and control operation across the affected areas of the country.

Department of Agriculture and Pakistan Army are conducting a comprehensive survey and control operation against locusts in different districts of the country. So far 238,399 square kilometers had been surveyed, while 4,967 square kilometers had been controlled.

Aerial spraying is also being done with the help of airplanes and helicopters for effective control of locust during the control operation.

Agricultural experts are of the opinion that Pakistan might lose $8.71 billion worth of agricultural crops in case locusts destroyed 75 per cent of the standing crops.

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According to experts the locust attack in Pakistan during the year is of severe nature and coordinated efforts of the federal and provincial government departments were essential for the elimination of locust swarms, which were now in billions. It is estimated that if 25 per cent of the crops were damaged during the current season, the loss would be $2.9 billion and if 50 per cent crops were eaten up by locusts, the losses would be around $5.8 billion.

Experts said that currently, pesticides spray is being carried out in Pakistan through special aircraft, which have been donated by China recently.

Earlier Spokesman of The National Disaster Management Authority said that 61 districts across the country are under attack from locusts, which have been damaging food crops.