ISLAMABAD: The National Locust Control Centre (NLCC) on Thursday claimed that locust swarms in Balochistan, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been brought under control and that there was no presence of locusts in these provinces in the wake of extensive control operation as of August 6.

However, active breeding was taking place in Tharparkar and some areas of Cholistan and the population developing in Nagarparkar was likely to fledge by mid-August, the Ministry of National Food Security and Research said.

Anti-locust survey and control operations are in progress with presence of locusts found only in two districts —Tharparkar and Karachi.

In Balochistan, 4703.25 sq/km areas have been treated with the help of 232 teams, 112 vehicles and 1,288 personnel.

Active breeding under way in Tharparkar, Cholistan

In Punjab 4589.60 sq/km areas have been treated with the help of 539 teams, 388 vehicles and 2,830 personnel.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 625.35 sq /km areas have been treated with the help of 80 teams, 106 vehicles and 847 personnel.

In Sindh, 1016.2 sq/km areas have been treated with the help of 242 teams, 174 vehicles and 1,177 personnel.

The Department of Plant Protection has deployed four beaver aircraft in Sukkur, Tharparkar, Islamkot and Karachi for aerial spray.

In Pakistan, the population of desert locusts has been increasing exponentially since early 2019, and in early 2020 it became beyond control. The desert locust is the most dangerous migratory pest in the world with a voracious appetite, high mobility aided by wind patterns and a 20-fold increase in population with each generation during outbreaks. These traits make it a formidable threat to lives and livelihoods and a uniquely difficult and costly combat.

Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2020