DUSHANBE, April 9, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Locust infestation has hit more than 20,000 hectares of farmland in 14 districts of the Khatlon province to this date, Asia-Plus has learned at the state unity enterprise, Fight against Locust Infestation.

The source said that locusts had affected 2,500 ha of land in Danghara, 2,500 ha in Khuroson, 2,100 ha in Qumsangir, 1,900 ha in Vakhsh and 1,700 ha in Shahritous.

”Work on combating locusts and destroying breeding places for locusts is under way in the province and some 8,500 hectares of the affected areas have been treated with pesticides so far,” he said, noting that more than 1,100 people are involved in the locust-combating campaign.

This year, the government has allocated 5 million somoni for combating pests.

We will recall that last year, locust infestation hit more than 114,000 hectares of land in the country, including 84,000 hectares in Khatlon.  Last year’s locust infestation was attributed to a disruption of the insects'' usual seasonal migration pattern by the unusually early onset of hot weather after a record cold winter.