MULTAN, Aug 8: Mealybug has become a serious threat to crops, including cotton, and fruit, vegetables, ornamental plants and trees and it has been reported attacking 150 species of plants, prompting the Bahawalnagar administration to convene a meeting on Saturday (today) to discuss measures to counter the threat.

"The pest has the potential to destroy crops if not managed properly," says a release issued by the media liaison unit of the Multan agriculture directorate.

This issue of national importance requires special attention for its management by all stakeholders as the pest is multiplying in most of the houses, offices, cultivated and non-cultivated command areas of individuals, organisations, departments and formations.

The district nazim and the district coordination officer (DCO) have desired to convene a meeting of all the stakeholders at Zila Council Hall on Aug 9 for a detailed briefing on the incidence of cotton mealybug and its management plan.

The district nazim, the district naib nazim and the DCO will jointly preside over the meeting that is expected to finalise an integrated management programme to counter mealybug.

Officials of the provincial government departments in Bahawalnagar, autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies, representatives of NGOs, farmers, pesticide and fertilizer dealers besides army officers will attend the meeting to finalise an integrated plan and join hands to implement it in a flawless manner. —APP