Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has reportedly acquired modern technology as it prepares itself to keep the locust swarm moving north at bay.
According to reports, PDMA has used agricultural drones to spray pesticides and insecticides on numerous fields in and around Dera Ismail Khan (DI Khan).
Parwaiz Khan, DG PDMA, says that the authority used agricultural drones to sprinkle pesticides and insecticides at terrains where vehicles and staff cannot reach.
The locust swarm has proved to be a menace for farmers as it has destroyed hundreds of thousands of acres of land and ripened crops, causing huge loss to farmers.
Last year, Sindh had reported the first incident of invasion by locust swarms. However, the tardy response from the concerned authorities has allowed it to destroy every inch of land standing in its way so far.
On Monday, the locust swarm invaded Chishtian, Bahawalnagar, destroying trees, bushes and thousands of acres of arable land. Locals blamed the provincial agriculture department for not undertaking concrete measures.
In the recent past, locust invasion has not only become frequent but more intense as warmer temperature induced by climate change has caused locusts to shift and descend to new locations.
Can u please mention the areas in chistian where thousands of acres are destroyed in one day? Agree that locust swarms are goinh to b threats in coming spring season but i don’t think its causing that much damage at the movement. And agriculture department is primarily not the locust control department.. It is sole responsibility of federal locust control department. So please confirm facts from authentic source before writing.. Cheers