Pakistan has been using chemical pesticides to deal with the current locust plague and local experts hope that they can introduce China's biological control methods to the country before the autumn harvest.

A team of Chinese experts have been working closely with their peers in Pakistan to make a comprehensive plan to control the locust problem that includes using a fungus to kill off the pests.

Dr. Muhammad Sagheer, a lecturer at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, has said that using more natural ways would be preferred in fighting the swarms.

"I think they should help us to promote the predators and biopesticides in this area, so that we can control the insect by non-chemical ways," said Sagheer.

After days of field survey, Chinese experts have provided an informative package detailing a prevention and control plan for Pakistan.

Since the short-term goal in Pakistan is to remove the threat of the next generation of locust swarms from autumn crops through emergency control, China will send its first batch of locust control materials to Karachi on March 9.

In addition, to help Pakistan fight the locusts, China will provide Pakistan with 50 drones, 300,000 liters of pesticides and send professional personnel to assist in the implementation.

"The next step is to further establish a cooperation mechanism for drone prevention and control and other methods, as well as the testing approach. In particular, there is a lot of interest in sustainable biological control, especially the use of biological pesticide," said Wang Fengle, head of the Chinese team.

According to Pakistan's official figures, the locust swarms have affected around 120,000 square kilometers of land in the country over the last nine months, and the country has only been able to spray around 1,200 square kilometers, about one hundredth of the total.

Chinese experts survey Punjab to help Pakistan with locust plague

Locust plague: One of the worst agricultural disasters

(Cover image via VCG)

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