By Rafiullah Mandokhail
ZHOB: Like elsewhere in Balochistan, a huge swarm of pink-coloured (immature) locusts arrived here to play havoc with standing crops, olive forests and bushes in the bordering district of Zhob. The swarm has been entered from the neighboring district, threatening farmland and olive forests on around 50,000 hectares.
The swarm of locusts attacked the green belt of the district, posing a serious threat to grapes orchards and vegetable crops in the scenic area of Silyaza.
According to sources, the grapes orchards, almond, apple, pomegranate, peach and apricot trees in different parts of the district have been badly affected. The flying insect also devouring bushes on green pastures of the valley.
“Millions of locusts landed in the district and started devouring standing crops. Green pastures of Killi Takkei, Malawar, Usmanzai Babar, Kharwandei and Appozai have been affected seriously due to the attack of locust swarm,” said Ajab Takkeiwal resident of Killi Takkei.
“If proper measures are not taken by the district administration and Agriculture department at the earliest, the swarm could ravage the remaining crops,” he expressed concerns.
He urged the government to take serious steps to bring the situation under control and avoid heavy losses to the farmers. The small scale growers are struggling hard to combat the locust invasion by sprinkling pesticides on their crops. He added.
Although aerial spray is considered to be the most effective way to fight against the locust swarm, but the Agriculture department Zhob has only two spray machines for around 50,000 hectares farmland and forests.
Deputy Director Agriculture (Extension) Muhammad Anwer Dotani told that the officials have visited the affected areas and supervised the anti-locust spray in Appozai, Malwar and Kharwandei areas despite its limited resources. He said the department lacks state-of-the-art equipments, powerful spray machines and insecticide to combat locusts. Adding, NDMA through DC office has provided the department two power sprayer trolleys along with empty barrels, two Knapsack sprayers (Oukama), two Knapsacks (Eurogold), one barrel ULV malathion (200 liters) and two gallons (40 liters) lambda-cyhalothrin.
“Another massive swarm of locust will enter the district on June 15,” the official warned.
