Staff Reporter
Islamabad
Owing to untiring efforts of joint teams for combating desert locust attacks, the threats were minimized from 61 districts to only two districts including Tahr Parker and Bahwalpur. The joint teams of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, provincial agriculture departments and the Pakistan Army were conducting a comprehensive survey and control operation against the locusts in different districts to overcome the threats.
According to National Locust Control Centre (NLCC), during last 24 hours, survey was conducted over 267,770 hectares, operation was performed over 1,266 hectares in effected areas of Tahr Parker. During last six months anti-locust operation was completed over 1,103,870 hectares, it added. It further said that the desert locust threats from South West Asia and Iran had reduced, whoever the threats of attack were still existing from the swarms coming from India and Africa.
Secretary Agriculture Punjab, Wasif Khursheed, said reduction in crops production would be compensated through ‘Beema Takaful’ programme. Around 254,482 crops of cotton and rice growers having five acres land at 18 districts of Punjab were affected due to environmental changes, natural calamities and locust attack, adding that the Punjab had provided them financial protection through Beema Takaful programme.
The 18 district included Multan, Khanewal, Lodhran, DG Khan, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, Layyah, Bahawalpur, Bahawal Nagar, RahimYar Khan, Bhakkar, Sahiwal, Okara, Faisalabad, Qasoor, Sheikhupura, Narowal and Mandi Bahauddin. While more districts would be included in phases, he said.
In a statement issued here on Sunday, Secretary Agriculture said that policy certificates have been issued to cotton and rice growers who get beema registration while they were also informed through SMS. The insurance company would contact with beema registered growers and wold be bound to compensate the losses, he informed. Secretary informed that Rs 500 subsidy on DAP, Rs 200 on NP, Rs 200 on SSP.
