KULOB, April 26, 2011, Asia-Plus -- To-date, 9,580 hectares of farmland in three districts of Khatlon’s Kulob region have been affected by locust infestations, the Kulob agriculture department head Dilovar Zamonayev said in an interview with Asia-Plus.

According to him, the most hit areas are the Danghara and Farkhor districts, where locust infestations have affected 4,500 and 4,280 hectares of areas under various crops respectively.  “Besides, locust infestation has also spread to 800 hectares of farmland in Hamadoni district,” Zamonayev said. 

According to him, warmer temperatures have increased the risk of further spread of serious locust infestations to farmland in the area.  “Locust grubs have been reported mainly in the mountain areas so far,” the Kulob agriculture department head noted, adding that local authorities are taking measures to combat locusts.