Govt. clearance operations for eradication of locusts swarms heading towards success.

PESHAWAR -- The locusts' attacks, which threatened agricultural productivity and food security since the start of this year, have been restricted to five districts of Khyber Pakthunkhwa (KP) where 59,181.2 hectares infested area in 15 districts were cleared owing to the Government's successful clearance operations against the flying insects.

Entered to Pakistan from Afghanistan through Waziristan-D I Khan corridor, the locusts' swarms had engulfed 15 KP districts including Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, South Waziristan, North Waziristan, Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Karak, Kohat, Kurrum, Hangu, Nowshera, Orakzai, Peshawar, Khyber and Bajaur, forcing the government to launch targeted operations to contain its movement following reports of substantial losses to agriculture crops including wheat, cotton, fruits, vegetables and young plantations.

As a result, over 59181.2 hectares infested areas in these 15 affected districts have been cleared by the Government besides accelerating operations in remaining five infested districts of Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Karak and Kohat districts, said a report of Provincial Disasters Management Authority (PDMA) KP.

Targeted operations were conducted on the basis of detailed surveys started since March 9 last in these five infested districts where 42, 293 hectares area have been cleared till June 21, the report said.

A total of 284,600 hectares area was surveyed in D Ismail Khan out of which 14,199 hectares has been successfully operated. However, locusts swarms in a static position were still present on 295 hectares in D I Khan where operation is continuing.

The pests movement was restricted to 25 hectares in Tank district after 9,007 hectares area was operated out of 206,680 hectares surveyed area where swarms were seen in a static as well as moving positions.

In Lakki Marwat, infestation was contained to 144 hectares following 12,515 hectares were sprayed out of 516,000 hectares surveyed area.Likewise, flying insects' movements were contained to 68 hectares in Karak after 3,077 hectares operated out of 272,880 hectares surveyed.

In Kohat, locusts were moving from one place to another after spray on 3,495 hectares following completion of survey on 371,132 hectares.

Anti locusts operations on 502 hectares continued in these five districts where conventional and non-conventional methods were being used to flush out the insects.

The districts so far cleared from locusts' swarms include South Waziristan where...