Locusts moving towards Cholistan.

LAYYAH -- Locust swarms have damaged sesame seeds, moong beans, green fodder and cotton in Layyah district.

Agriculture department officials say they have sprayed 5,893 acres to eliminate the swarms.

The desert locust entered Layyah from Jhang and Bhakkar districts on May 15 when farmers were taking care of newly-seeded crops.

The locust swarms have not spared citrus orchards and trees Albezzia Lebbek Siris and Tamarix Aphylla Frash, locally called sers and khraash.

'Locusts entered our district in flyer groups, not in swarm, so they have not potentially damaged the crops and we are fully prepared to deal with it,' says Agriculture Deputy Director Muhammad Yasin.

The pest has stormed the area after decades.

'In the 50s when I was a student in grade five, we were asked by our elders to kill the locusts with sticks and every other means available to get rid of it,' says Imdad Hussain, of Basti Bhakkar in tehsil choubara.

'At that time, locusts arrived in such a large number and we were not able see the sunlight. I remember that it was a ritual to collect locusts for cooking purposes.'

The locust was first seen in the district in February but it didn't stay here.

Now, locust has entered the district from Jhang and Bhakkar and is seen heading towards Cholistan, Muhammad Rashid Ali, agriculture officer said.

'We have sprayed pesticides on 5,893 acres. The desert locust is traveling to south and southeast to the desert of cholistan for breeding as the months of February and September are their breeding periods. We have sprayed the locust with spray machines at night as locusts stay on tress during nighttime,' he added.

'This is the migratory phase of locusts and the swarm will keep on moving to...