*ISLAMABAD – In order to counter the alarming locust epidemic in SouthAsia, members of the Locust Control board from India and Pakistan met atthe international India-Pakistan border in Munnaboa in Barmer.*
“A team of four members, headed by Directorate of Plant ProtectionQuarantine from Pakistan and us met and discussed the situation of breedingof the locust,” said Indian government official KL Gurjar, who serves asDeputy Director (PP), Directorate of Plant Protection Quarantine & Storage,quoted *Deccan Herald*.
This was the last scheduled meeting between the two countries for the nextsix months. The Indian official informed in the meeting it was discussedthat for the next six months the locust breeding will take place at theother end towards, Balochistan- Iran border.
The locust attacks have caused serious damage on both sides of the borderand have been particularly deadly to the standing crops in 11 districts inSindh. The provincial government has decided to provide Rs10 million tofederal Plant Protection Dept as bridge finance arrangement to arrangethree aircraft, fuel and pesticide to launch aerial spray in desert area,the habitat of locust, with an immediate effect.
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Minister Agriculture Ismail Rahu, informed that the emergence of desertlocust was first reported in Nara desert of Khairpur on May 13, 2019 whichhad come from India. He added that due to prolonged monsoon season, DesertLocust laid eggs in desert area and now Nymph and hopper Band shave emergedin desert areas which could cause a great threat to farmers’ economy.
