Agriculture ministry gears up for possible attack of desert locusts
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) is prompting preparations for the possibility of an invasion by desert locusts in the time ahead.
A swarm of desert locusts in Lerata village of Kenya's Samburu county (Photo: AFP/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment (MARD) is prompting preparations for the possibility of an invasionby desert locusts in the time ahead.
The MARD said desert locusts have causeddevastation in Pakistan and entered India’s northern and western areas in lateMay. They may continue migrating to Bangladesh, Myanmar, Laos, or Yunnan andGuangxi provinces of China, and then Vietnam.
If the locust swarms reach those regions, they willdirectly threaten agricultural production in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam,the ministry noted, stressing the critical importance of keeping a close watchon the formation and migration directions of locust swarms in Pakistan,Indonesia, Bangladesh, and especially Myanmar, China and Laos.
Desert locusts are likely to follow southwestand west winds to continue migrating to South Asian countries like Pakistan andIndia in June and July, and then to Vietnam, the ministry said.
Three warning levels will be issued and responsemeasures taken according to locust movements: when the insects hit the south ofIndia and Bangladesh; when they reach Myanmar, China’s Yunnan or Laos, whichmeans they could swiftly spread to Vietnam; and when they enter thecountry.
A national steering committee for desert locustprevention and control will be set up, and so will similar agencies in theprovinces bordering China and Laos, or localities hit by the insects if thesecond and third scenarios happen.
The agriculture sector will maximise everyresource to fight against desert locusts and build plans to protect crops,assets and livelihoods in the affected areas, according to the MARD.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)estimated the desert locust population in East Africa at hundreds of millions,about 150 million individuals each swarm, that covered an area of about 2,400sq.km. and moved among East African countries at a speed of some 13km per hour.They have destroyed crops and other food sources and seriously threatenedaviation security.
If left unchecked, the plague will affect 60countries and jeopardise food security for hundreds of millions of people, FAOsaid./.
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A swarm of desert locusts in Lerata village of Kenya's Samburu county (Photo: AFP/VNA) 
