COVID-19 is not the only challenge the world is confronted with
at present, as another threat in the form of locusts looms large. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has warned current upsurge in desert locust attacks could turn into a full-fledged global plague by end of the year if it spreads to West Africa and insects begin breeding there.
These every-thing-green munching pests have so far damaged crops over millions of hectares in Pakistan, India, Iran and many African countries, putting their food security at risk. And despite control operations, recent rains and upcoming monsoon season has created an ideal conditions for massive reproduction of these pests in several countries. Young juveniles will become voracious adults in June just as farmers begin to harvest. Just like Corona Virus, the threat posed by crop devouring pests cannot be overlooked as doing so will expose more countries to their invasion and threaten their food security. According to experts, locusts can fly up to 150 kilometre in a day and a one-square-kilometre swarm can eat as much food as 35,000 people, in terms of weight, in a single day, In Pakistan alone the locusts have already affected sixty one districts and these could engulf the entire country if sufficient control measures were not put in place.
The FAO estimates losses to Pakistan agriculture from locusts this year could be as high as $2.2 billion for winter crops, including wheat and potatoes and nearly $3 billion for summer crops. China is already helping Pakistan with equipment and pesticides in its anti-locust operations but other countries should also come in aid of the countries affected by locusts before it is too late and the situation spirals out of control. Apart from assistance in the form of pesticides and aircraft, locust affected countries also need finances so that they could compensate farmers whose crops have been damaged by the swarms. Pakistan, India and Iran need to formulate a well-coordinated joint response to effectively meet this challenge.
