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Islamabad, September 11, 2020 (PPI-OT): Locust can migrate from Rajhastan (India) to Cholistan and Tharparkar (Pakistan).This was stated by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research (NFSR), Syed Fakhar Imam while chairing the meeting of National Locusts Control Centre(NLCC) on Friday. Lieutenant General Moazzam Ejaz, Coordinator NLCC also co-chaired the meeting. Till now 55831700 Hectares(HA) have been surveyed and 1127000HA have been treated. It was mentioned that locust is limited only 1 district of the country i.e. Lasbella.
FAO briefed about locust forecast. As per the forecast, in Southwest Asia, the situation has improved dramatically as a result of intensive survey and control operations in India and Pakistan. Nevertheless, limited breeding continues in southeast Sindh and Lasbella west of Karachi in Pakistan. Desert Locust situation has improved in Southwest Asia but remains serious in Yemen and parts of East Africa. There is concern that the situation could deteriorate along both sides of the Red Sea. In East Africa, aerial control operations continue against low numbers of immature swarms that persist in northwest Kenya and northeast Somalia.
Breeding is underway in north and northeast Ethiopia where control teams are treating numerous hopper bands and groups that continue to form. The situation is expected to prevail during the remainder of September. Federal Minister asked Balochistan to focus on Lasbella and Uthal for survey and control operation. Sindh mentioned that they are still continuing their survey. Punjab mentioned that they have done control operation in Bahawalnagar and Bahawalpur. KPK mentioned that they are still doing intensive survey.
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