DUSHANBE , June 5, Asia-Plus - Tajikistan has adopted mechanical and chemical methods to deal with the locusts infestation. 

More than 11,000 hectares in northern and southern regions of Tajikistan have been treated with chemicals, according to information from the Ministry of Agriculture.  The source says they actual volume of damage caused to the country’s agrarian sector by locusts has not yet been assessed. 

As it had been registered earlier, the locusts infestation was registered in several villages in southern Tajikistan some two weeks ago and alter spread to other districts of the Khatlon province.  The worst hit were Panj, Qumsangir, Khuroson and Vakhsh district in the Khatlon province and the Rudaki district in central Tajikistan , according to the source. 

“To date, locusts have destroyed more than 50,000 hectares of farmland in the republic,” the Asia-Plus interlocutor said, noting that at present the situation is under control.  A special commission comprising specialists from the agriculture ministry is working in the region to tackle problem and mitigate the effects of the locusts infestation.     

Asked about aid provided by the government for combating locusts, the source said, “We have heard that the government provided US$300,000 for combating the locusts infestation but we have not yet felt a real help.”     

We will recall that s disaster management coordination group known as the Rapid Emergency Assessment and Coordination Team REACT, bringing together donors, UN agencies, NGOs and the Red Cross, on June 2 held a meeting to discuss the situation with locusts infestation in Tajikistan .