KHUJAND, May 29, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Ground surveys conducted in northern Tajikistan have revealed locusts on an area of more than 5,000 hectares, the deputy head of the Sughd plant protection department, Abdumavlon Vohidov said in an interview with Asia-Plus.

“By May 25, ground surveys have revealed locust on 5,2002 hectares of farmland, primarily in Istaravshan and Mastchoh districts,” Vohidov said, noting that local specialists have taken measures to destroy locusts.  According to him, 3,708 hectares of the affected areas have already been treated so far.

However, he further added that it could not be ruled out that locusts might appear on 86,500 hectares of farmland in 10 districts of the province in the near future.

Vohidov noted that last year, they treated 24,145 hectares of lands affected by locust infestations.

Specialists attributed last year’s locust infestation to a disruption of the insects'' usual seasonal migration pattern by the unusually early onset of hot weather after a record cold winter.