DUSHANBE, April 15, Asia-Plus  -- A next meeting of the commission for combating locust infestation, presided over by Agriculture Minister Qosim Qosimov, was held in Dushanbe on April 14, press service of the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) said.  

Heads of regional commissions for combating locust infestation reported on measures that had been taken to prevent spread of the locust infestation in the regions.  

The head of the commission for the Sughd province, Mavlon Vohidov, in particular, noted that the locust infestation has to date spread to 7,425 hectares in the province.  2,220 hectares of the affected areas have been treated there so far.  The most hit areas are Bobojonghafurov, Mastchoh and Zafarobod districts, where locusts have affected 1,950 ha, 1,450 ha and 1,250 ha respectively.  

The head of the Khatlon commission Qamariddin Ghaniyev, for his part, noted that the locust infestation has to date spread to 59,100 ha in 14 districts of the province and they have treated 25,000 ha of the affected areas so far.    The most affected areas are Shahritus, Khuroson and Panj districts, where locusts have affected 8,000 ha, 7,600 ha and 7,500 ha respectively.  

The commission for combating locust infestation in districts subordinate to the center noted that the locust infestation has to date spread to totaling 15,700 hectares Rudaki, Shahrinav, Tursunzoda, Hissor and Varzob districts.  Only 3,700 hectares of the affected areas have been treated.  The worst hit areas are Rudaki and Tursunzoda districts, where locusts have affected 7,000 ha and 4,000 ha respectively.  

During the meeting, it was noted that in all, the locust infestation has to date spread to 82,225 hectares in the country and 30,150 ha of the affected areas have been treated.   

 3,200 people have been involved in the campaign to combat the locust infestation.  

 Specialists attribute the infestation to a disruption of the insects’ usual seasonal migration by the unusually early onset of hot weather. 

Last year, locust invasions destroyed thousands of hectares of farmland in southern Tajikistan.  Central districts and parts of the Sughd province were also invaded by locusts last year.