Islamabad: Pakistan is in close contact with several countries in Africa and Middle East, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, to fight the worst locust plague in decades.
Pakistan’s National Locust Control Centre (NLCC) briefed the diplomatic community on Thursday, emphasising that strong regional and international cooperation is vital to address the food security threat to Pakistan and other regional countries due to the locust attack.
Syed Fakhar Imam, Minister for National Food Security and Research, thanked the governments of China, the United Kingdom (UK) and Japan and contribution of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for facilitating Pakistan in controlling the locust threat.
Cooperation with Middle Eastern and African countries
To enhance international cooperation in combatting locust threat, Pakistan has extended cooperation with Middle Eastern states including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Yemen as well as 17 African countries (Algeria, Burundi, Chad, Central African Republic, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Rwanda, Tunisia, Sudan, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda).
Support to SWAC members
Pakistan is also extending support to India, Afghanistan and Iran (SWAC members) under FAO’s Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in South-West Asia (SWAC) by sharing information and data on a weekly basis.
Diplomatic community urged to boost support amid COVID
The briefing to members of the diplomatic community and international partners was part of the on-going efforts, led by Prime Minister Imran Khan, to enhance collaboration to mitigate the multi-dimensional challenges posed by locusts amid COVID-19 pandemic. The briefing was attended by Ambassadors, High Commissioners and representatives from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, China, UK, US, Turkey, Germany, France, Canada, European Commission, Oman, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Japan, Afghanistan, Australia, Italy, Turkmenistan, Iran and heads of UN agencies and global financial Institutions.
Locust situation may worsen in coming weeks
Chairman of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Lt Gen Mohammad Afzal has warned that the locust situation may worsen in the coming weeks. “Next eight weeks between July 15 and Sept 15 would be critical because of monsoon.”
Ministry of Food Secretary Omar Hamid Khan fears the swarms coming from the Horn of Africa could be much devastating than last year. Pakistan could be under attack through its coastlines as major swarms from the Middle East, Oman, and Africa are likely to reach here besides the expected threat of invasion from Iran, Afghanistan and India.
If immediate steps are not taken, “the situation would be a cause of concern not only for Pakistan but also for the region’s food security,” said Director General at the UN Division of the Foreign Office Farrukh Iqbal.
The Ministry for Food estimated the losses to agriculture from locusts could be between a minimum of Rs490 billion and up to Rs2451bn in the worst-case scenario.
What has Pakistan done so far to overcome the challenge?
The anti-locust operation has been carried out in 32 affected districts of the country, covering 2.6 million acres of area. As many as 1028 joint teams comprising over 5336 people and 676 vehicles took part in the anti-locusts operations including aerial spraying, according to NLCC data.
Pakistan developing pesticides, buying drones, spraying aircraft
To bolster fight against locusts, Pakistan is purchasing six aircraft and is expected to receive 50 drones for aerial spraying. China earlier sent a few drones to Pakistan and one Chinese company also offered to develop the local drone industry to deal with locust threat.
At least Rs26 billion is required for planes, vehicles, sprayers and other necessary material to effectively wipe out locusts, said Minister for Food Fakhar Imam, adding the federal government would provide Rs14 billion while provincial governments should bear the cost of Rs12 billion.
Pakistan working on biopesticides and bio-compost
Pakistan’s University of Agriculture Faisalabad is developing biopesticides to control locusts. The government is also working on a project to use locusts to develop bio-compost to promoting organic farming. The pilot testing of the community-based project will be carried out in Cholistan and Thar. If successful, it would not only save crops but also promote organic farming and offer 222,000 community members a chance to earn money.
