ALMOST 70 per cent population of Balochistan depends on agriculture and livestock, but locusts have been destroying crops of wheat, apple, grapes, peach, pear, etc.

Balochistan farmers have made several requests to the authorities concerned to help them and provide pesticides to kill locust. But both federal and provincial governments have paid no heed to this issue, which is creating havoc in Pishin, Qilla Abdullah, Qilla Saifullah, Zhob, Mastung and Ziarat.

It is sad to hear our prime minister saying at a federal cabinet meeting that farmers were catching locust to sell them for Rs15 a kilogramme which is a good opportunity for farmers.

This issue needs to be resolved seriously. Otherwise we may have a severe food crisis in the coming days.

The prime minister should help farmers and provide pesticides and aerial spray against locust.

Bashir Khan Badizai
Quetta

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2020