Efforts to combat locust attack.

RAHIM YAR KHAN -- Damage of 3,344 acres of cotton, 2,117 acres of wheat, 2,004 acres of oilseed, 170 acres of orchards and 10 acres of fodder has been reported during recurrent locust attacks.

This has been reported by the Agriculture Extension Department RYK.

In response to national emergency declared by the prime minister, the Rural Education and Economic Development Society (REEDS) Pakistan has started a project for a nine months starting on April 1 in three district of Punjab and Sindh to combat recurrent attacks of locusts, said REEDS head Shahid Salim on Saturday.

The project is launched with four main objectives including support to district government, awareness of farmers, research for locustscontrol and compensation packages for affectees.

To start the implementation of project, REEDS designed a tri-party MOU with district administration, agriculture extension department.

REEDS has established 'Locust Information Cell' at Deputy Commissioner Office RYK to facilitate information collection. District Focal Person for Locust -- Assistant Commissioner HR and Coordination Riasat Ali , Deputy Director Agriculture Extension Iqrar Hussain, head research and education development program REEDS Dr Yousuf Ali and assistant director pest warning Syed Burhan Uddin Shah inaugurated the information cell.

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