DUSHANBE
, June 2, Asia-Plus – The locust infestation that was registered in several villages in southern
Tajikistan
has spread to other districts of the Khatlon province, according to information from the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES).
The MES source says the worst hit is the Khuroson district, where locusts have destroyed hundreds of hectares of farmland in the villages of Sumbula, Khumdon, Chigili, Peshgap, Tomchi, Mehnat and Navobod.
The pests are destroying more and more new crops in the region. “For example, 278 hectares of cotton fields and 40 hectares personal plots and some 30 hectares of farmland in the Khuroson district have been destroyed by locusts,” the MES source said.
A special commission comprising specialists from the agriculture ministry is working in the region to tackle problem and mitigate the effects of the locusts infestation .
The MES source says that according to unofficial information they received, cases of the locusts infestation have been reported in the Rudaki district (central
Tajikistan
) as well.
According to data provided by
Tajikistan
’s department for protection of plants and chemicalization of agriculture, more than 36,500 hectares of farmland in the country have to date been destroyed by locusts.
