TOBA TEK SINGH: The locust plague has become as big as Covid-19 in Pakistan and scientists are considering calling it “Covid-20 for agriculture” sector of the country.

This was stated here on Friday in a press conference by a PhD in agri sciences final year student from Beijing Agriculture University, Adnan Arshad, who belonged to Toba Tek Singh and was on a research tour here.

He claimed that the current locust attacks have persisted due to favourable weather conditions caused by climate change for the locusts to breed. The weather conditions followed by continuous rains and ideal temperature encouraged extraordinary breeding and the rapid growth of locust populations in Pakistan, he added.

He said farming accounted for 20pc of the country’s GDP and the damage caused by locusts could decrease financial growth to less than 2pc in the ongoing fiscal year.

He said China was now providing technical and physical support to fight locusts after Covid-19.

China had sent spraying equipment and 300 tonnes of pesticide on emergency basis and will send further help in terms of agriculture scientists and machines because there are still hundreds of thousands of eggs ready to hatch.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2020