DUSHANBE, July 20, 2009, Asia-Plus — Locusts in the southern Khatlon province and districts subordinate to the center (RRPS) have been completely destroyed this year, Qiyomiddin Ghaniyev, the director of the state unity enterprise, Fight against Locusts, remarked at a press conference in Dushanbe on July 20.
According to him, locust infestations have been reported in Khatlon, some districts subordinate to the center locusts and the southern Sughd province; to this date, locusts have still existed in some districts of Sughd province.
“Last year, locust infestations affected more than 114,000 hectares of farmland across the country,” said Ghaniyev, “This year, locusts have been detected on 99,735 hectares of farmland; the worst hit area was Khatlon province, where locust infestations have affected some 53,000 ha. In districts subordinate to the center, locusts have been detected on an area of 11,000 hectares and in Sughd province, locusts have been detected on the area of 22,000 hectares.”
He further noted that locust infestations have shown a downward tendency in the country over the past two-three years. Ghaniyev added that locust infestations had not caused any serious damage to the agrarian sector this year.
On the prognosis for the next year, Tajik official noted that they had already taken a number of measures to prevent locust infestations next year. “Specialists expect dynamics of locust infestations in the country to decrease by another 30 percent next year,” Ghaniyev said.
