The crop loss due to locust attack is less than one percent : DG PDMA Khuram Shahzad

Lahore : The crop loss estimates due to locust attack in the Punjab is less than one percent of total cultivated areas as it hit almost 40,000 acre of crop areas whereas total area under cultivation is 300 million acre.

Further, in ongoing season both Rabi crops of wheat and gram productivity increased in the province and recorded 19.4 million and 53000 metric tons, respectively. Whereas the current locust attack hit the cotton crop areas in Punjab besides some vegetables fields while situation is in under control following the timely action by spraying in the fields and re-cultivation of the affected crops areas.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday, Senior Member Board of Revenue/Relief Commissioner Punjab Baber Hayat Tarar, Director General Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Khuram Shahzad at PDAM headquarters said that 15 districts of the province were come under current locust attack. The intensity of the attack was defusing by timely spraying on 870,000 acre crop are while in the rest of the areas operation is underway. The Punjab government allocated Rs 100 million for locust management besides Rs 6 billion allocation made by the federal government in the same head.

DG PDMA Khuram Shahzad said that besides allocation of the funds, the Punjab also devised a locust management plan while the province were closely monitoring locust moment since 2019 and proactively acting to protect the crops from damages.  He said the details of locust hit areas and sprays conducted in those areas were available on PDMA locust management application.

The PDMA has been estimating the losses incurred to the farmers due to locust attack for their revival. He said imports obstacles due to covid-19, the production of local machinery and sprays were being ensured to combat with the locust attack. Further, procurement of vehicles for locust management was also in the last phase for future locust attack control.

SMBR/Relief Commissioner Baber Hayat Tarar said that Punjab government was full backing the locust management and Chief Minister allocated his plane for the locust management related activities. Further, the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary have also been monitoring locust management activities thrice in a week.