KARACHI: The Met Office has said that the current situation remains serious in Sindh along the Indo-Pakistan border where monsoon breeding of locust is underway by spring-bred swarms.

Also, substantial hatching and band formation are expected in August till early September and a second generation of summer breeding would start at the end of September.

Extensive control operations are in progress in the affected areas, it said quoting the Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations, Locust Watch, 3rd August, 2020.

Impact of weather on locust growth during monsoon rainfall is expected to remain near normal from July to September 2020 in Pakistan. Sindh and Kashmir are likely to receive moderately above normal, 20 percent more, rainfall during August and September.

Temperatures are expected to remain higher than the requisite criteria in most parts of the lower half of the country.

Higher temperatures may decrease the lifetime of locust (below 6 months) and their activities may also be affected. Generally, winds are expected to prevail South-Westerly in lowland areas especially over the Sindh province (the vulnerable areas). These winds would push them away towards Indian side.

Apart from projected higher temperatures and wind pattern, higher rains would provide favourable environment for locust breeding during monsoon season.

Widespread and appropriate insecticides spray using aero planes/helicopters or special vehicles in the affected areas, is the only solution to control the spread of locust.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020