QURGHON TEPPA/DUSHANBE, March 26, 2009, Asia-Plus  - Locust infestation has been reported in 14 districts of the southern Khatlon province, Khursandmurod Qurbonaliyev, an official with the state unity enterprise, Fight against Locust Infestation, for combating pests, according to the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), said in an interview with Asia-Plus.

According to him, the worst hit area is the Khuroson district, where locusts hit 72,000 hectares of land.  “Seven special tractors and 300 new pesticide sprayers have been sent to Khuroson,” said Qurbonaliyev.  “The Khatlon authorities have asked the government to send some 1,000 servicemen of the Ministry of Defense and the Committee for Emergency Situations to the province to help combat locusts and destroy breeding places for locusts.”  This issue should be solved within the next two days, he said.

We will recall that last year, locust infestation hit 114,935 hectares of land in the country, including 84,000 hectares in Khatlon.  Last year’s locust infestation was attributed to a disruption of the insects'' usual seasonal migration pattern by the unusually early onset of hot weather after a record cold winter.  The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) called on April 19 2008 for US$500,000 in aid to cover the cost of essential pesticides and equipment to combat the locust infestation in Tajikistan.

The source at a MoA said that the government in 2008 allocated 4.5 million somoni to combat locusts.  Besides, 411,000 US dollars provided by the FAO were used for purchase pesticides and special equipment to combat the locust infestation.

As it had been reported earlier, the government this year allocated 5 million somoni to the Fight against Locust Infestation for combating pests.  Besides, the enterprise has received 17 tractors MTZ-82, two cars UAZ and six pesticide sprayers this year.

The state unitary enterprise, Fight against Locust Infestation, was established at the Ministry of Agriculture in 2008.  The government provided 4.5 million somoni for establishment of this enterprise.