DUSHANBE, May 10, 2013, Asia-Plus – To-date, locust infestations have reportedly hit more than 70,000 hectares of farmland in Tajikistan.

According to the State Unitary Enterprise “Locust Control,” they have treated 43,596 hectares of locust-affected areas with insecticides by May 6.  In all, they plan to treat an area of 140,000 hectares with insecticides.

In late March, specialists from Locust Control inspected 410,000 hectares of farmland across the country.

“In Khatlon province, locusts have hit more than 50,400 hectares of farmland, in Sughd province – more than 8,400 ha, and in districts subordinate to the center – some 12,000 hectares,” the source said.

Specialists say warmer temperatures have increased the risk of further spread of serious locust infestations to farmland.

“This year, national budget has earmarked more than 5.6 million somoni (US$1.00=4.75 somoni) for combating pests,” an official source at the Ministry of Agriculture said.

Besides, relevant international organizations are providing assistance to Locust Control.  Thus, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) provided assistance to Locust Control in February last year.  The assistance was provided in the framework of the FAO regional project, Combating Locusts in the Caucasus and Central Asia in 2012.

An Emergency Coordination Unit (ECU) was established by FAO in Tajikistan in 1996, initially to work on emergency locust control projects.  Since then, the emergency program has expanded steadily and has set-up veterinary field units, improved agricultural infrastructure and strengthened domestic seed production.