KHUJAND, April 22, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- To-date, breeding places for locusts have been detected in five districts of Sughd province, Hakim Shokirov, the head of the branch of state unitary enterprise, Fight against Locust, for Sughd, told Asia-Plus.

According to him, locusts have been detected on 100 hectares in the Zafarobod district, some 80 hectares in the Istaravshan district, 300 hectares in the Mastchoh district and 200 hectares in the Bobojonghafurov district.  “Locusts have also been seen near the settlement of Khavatag in Ghonchi district,” Shokirov said.

“Locust breeding still began mainly in pastures but they can infest agricultural fields in two months,” he noted, adding that they are taking adequate measures to prevent locust infestation.

Local authorities and farmers are helping destroy breeding places for locusts and additional pesticides will be delivered from Dushanbe this week, Shokirov said.

We will recall that the first locust infestation was detected in the Jilikul district, Khatlon province in late March.  The locusts were revealed on an area of 1,000 hectares.  Locust infestations have reportedly been detected in the Vakhsh, Khuroson and Danghara districts as well.