The Department of Plant Protection ground parties have reached Pasni area and started conducting plant monitoring, sampling, and grading. According to reports, the insects flew towards Balochistan from the southern provinces of Iran, which are also under a severe attack.
According to reports, the insects flew towards Balochistan from the Southern Provinces of Iran, which are also under a severe attack.
The locust movement started from Africa and entered into Iran after crossing the Arabian Peninsula causing damage on the way. The Iranian provinces, Khuzestan, Bushehr, Fars, Hormozgan, Kerman, Sistan, and Balochistan are presently under locust attack.
Pakistani officials have approached the Iranian ministry of foreign affairs for updates over the matter, but are yet to receive an official response. According to sources, Iran’s plant protection departments have launched a counter-attack on the insects which is believed to lower possible damage to crops on both sides of the border.
The Department of Plant Protection, Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (Minfal) had already deputed various teams in Balochistan to counter the insect invasion.
The Department of Plant Protection, Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (Minfal) had already deputed various teams in Balochistan to counter the insect invasion.
Pakistan has already faced a number of locust attacks in the past. The pest attacked Pakistan early in 1990s but could not cause major damage to crops. However, it badly damaged the country's crops in 1960s and 1970s, they said.