Staff Reporter
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has decided to provide Rs10 million to federal plant protection dept as bridge finance arrangement to arrange three aircrafts, fuel and pesticide to launch aerial spray in desert area of province, the habitat of locust.
He took decision on Monday while presiding over a meeting here at CM House. The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah, Senior Advisor to CM Nisar Khuhro, Minister Agriculture Ismail Rahu, PSCM Sajid Jamal Abro, Secretary Agriculture Agha Zaheeruddin, DG Agriculture Extension Hidayatullah, Falak Naz DG Plant Protection of federal government and other concerned officers.
Murad Shah said that the locust swarms attacks have caused serious damages to the standing crops in 11 districts. “Had the federal government’s Plant protection taken timely spray the damages would have been controlled,” he said and directed the provincial Agriculture department to conduct survey of the damages caused to the crops.
Minister Agriculture Ismail Rahu briefing the chief minister said that the emergence of desert locust was first reported in Nara desert of Khairpur on May 13, 2019 which had come from India. He added that due to prolonged monsoon season, Desert Locust laid eggs in desert area and now Nymph and hopper Band shave emerged in desert areas which could cause a great threat to farmer’s economy.
The chief minister was told that locust swarm were observed in transition status in many districts which caused damage to the standing crops.
It was pointed out that the federal Plant Protection department was informed to start control operation in Nara Desert. The federal plant protection department started control operation but due to their financial and other constraint the control programme could not take off properly.
The chief minister was told that the worst affected areas were Salleh pat of Sukkur district, Nara desert of Khairpur, Ghotki desert, Thar desert areas such as Chhachro, Dahili, Nagarparkar and Islamkot, Acchro Thar of Sanghar, desert area of Umerkot, Gongo Thar of taluka Daur of Shaheed Benazirabad.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister Agriculture Ismail Rahu said that his department has conducted spray operation on 247, 297 acres of different affected area. This spray has been conducted from the funds of Rs319.695 million the chief minister had provided to the deputy commissioners.
Murad Shah asked the DG federal Plant protection department that how many aircrafts they were using. He said that they have one helicopter in Sindh which has some fuel and pesticide shortage issues. He said that they could arrange three helicopters if the issues of their funds could be resolved. They vowed to arrange two more helicopters if their fuel and pesticide were arranged.
