ISLAMABAD - A total of 1100 teams are deployed by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) for the surveying and to carry control operations to ensure the minimum damage by the locust attack to the crops and cultivated lands of the entire country.
According to a press release issued by NDMA yesterday, 61 districts are currently under the attack of locust swarms.
In addition, an official wishing anonymous said that 31 districts were affected in Balochistan only, whereas 11 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 12 in Punjab and 7 in Sindh are also affected with the same attack.
The official further explained that surveys and control operations of locust infested areas were ongoing throughout the country.
To a question about the total loss of the crops, the official stated that the loss was not calculated in terms of money yet.
The press release says 1150 teams across the country are participating in the locust control operation. In the last 24 hours, an area of 313,000 hectares was surveyed.
The locust swarms attack the crop fields and cultivated regions of Pakistan every year.
FAO of the United Nations had also planned to launch a crisis appeal seeking resources for Pakistan to expand its efforts to control the current upsurge of desert locust in the country. Food and Agriculture Organization also warned both Pakistan and India about the severity of the locust attack this year and suggested both of the countries to take relative measures to mitigate its effects on the crops and other cultivated areas.