New locust invasion.

A SECOND wave of desert locust swarms is waiting to ravage a swath of farmlands across the country this summer. In a new report, the Food and Agriculture Organisation has warned of 'a potentially serious food security crisis' and significant livelihood losses unless urgent action is taken to contain the pests breeding in parts of Balochistan, Sindh and Punjab, covering almost 38pc of the country's total area. The infestation could deepen the economic pain already being felt by people because of the Covid-19 outbreak, which has shuttered the economy, forced massive layoffs and pushed millions into poverty. The FAO says the losses to agriculture in case of a fresh locust invasion could reach anywhere between Rs205bn and Rs353bn for Rabi crops and Rs464bn for Kharif crops as the swarms coming from Iran, Oman and East Africa will join the local infestation. The FAO's call for controlling the influx amid the impact of Covid-19 on health, livelihoods and food security and nutrition of vulnerable communities needs to be heeded without delay.

Pakistan is experiencing its worst locust attack in 30 years. Despite significant crop devastation in parts of Sindh, KP, Balochistan and Punjab, the authorities have done little to contain the resurgence of the plague. Farmers mostly find themselves on their own in tackling the...