The University of Agriculture Faisalabad has developed locust solar noise-repellent machine in order to avert attack of locust in the fields as an alternative of drum.
The machine developed by Energy System Engineering Department, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering UAF is inaugurated by UAF Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Ashraf. The machine developer DrAnjumMunir also attended the ceremony.
Dr Muhammad Ashraf said that the machine comprises 12volt plate and a compatible motor of 5 to six ampere. An optimized bell is attached herewith. He informed the gathering that the university was making all-out efforts to address the issue of locust which he termed ‘Covid 20’ for the agricultural sector and a potential threat. He lauded the measurers of the government for establishing a National Locust Control Centre to combat the plague which has devastated agriculture in 60 out of 135 districts.
He said the UAF has already developed a three-in-one spray machine tested by farmers of the locust-hit areas. The repellent is the second locust control machine developed by UAF engineers in six months,
He added that UAF had also established a Locust Research and Development Cell to devise preventive, and curative locust control strategies. The Cell research areas include locust biology, ecology, behaviour, toxicology, pesticide resistance management, and development and evaluation of phytochemical-based biopesticides in integration with other biological control approaches for eco-friendly sustainable management.
He said that all locust control activities were the part of UAF Locust Research and Development Cell.
He said that the 25 trained UAF internees to have joined the National Disaster Management Authority and Federal Plant Protection Department to work on locust control in Cholistan and Thar.
