DERA MURAD JAMALI: A huge swarm of locusts has attacked different parts of Nasirabad, posing a serious threat to various crops.

Balochistan Development Authority parliamentary secretary Mir Sikandar Khan Umrani on Friday contacted Provincial Minister for Agriculture Engineer Zamrak Khan Piralizai to discuss steps to be taken to protect the crops on an emergency basis.

The agriculture minister then directed the director general of agriculture department to send teams to affected areas without any delay.

Speaking to media, Mir Sikandar Khan Umrani said that Nasirabad was the agricultural hub of the province, where most people were associated with this sector.

He said that if the swarm of locusts increased, the provincial authorities would be asked to carry out aerial spray to minimise financial losses to the farmers.

Mr Umrani said that different areas of Nasirabad, including those irrigated by Rabi Canal, had been attacked by a huge swarm of locusts, causing damage to tomato, vegetable, mustard and other crops.

He said that they would make efforts to protect the crops and ensure less damages to the farmers. He assured that if needed the spray would be carried out through helicopter.

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2019