Framers struggling to combat locusts without govt. help.

Islamabad: Pakistan's farmers are struggling to combat the worst locust plague in nearly three decades as insect swarms decimate entire harvests in the country's agricultural heartlands and send food prices soaring.

Framers struggling to combat locusts without govt. help

Last year, the desert locusts, large herbivores that resemble grasshoppers arrived in Pakistan from Iran in June and have already ravaged cotton, wheat, maize and other crops.

Favorable weather conditions and a delayed government response have helped the locusts breed and attack crop areas.

Prime Minister Imran Khan pledged to tackle the issue, adding that protection of agriculture and farmers was the government's priority. However, no substantial efforts have been made till now.

The Japanese ambassador to Pakistan, Kuninori Matsuda called on National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) chairman Muhammad Afzal and offered his country's support in combating locust.

As per details, the NDMA chairman informed Japanese envoy about the situation emerged after the attacks of locust swarms in different cities of the country.

The Japanese envoy offered financial and technical support to Pakistan in tackling locust swarms. "Japan is ready to help Pakistan to tackle attacks of locust...