The swarms of locust that entered Nepal from Africa via the Gulf countries and India, have caused damage to 53 districts in the country so far. In just ten days, the destructive swarms expanded to 53 districts even though the damage caused in five districts is regarded as remarkably high.
If the data of the Plant Quarantine and Pesticides Management Center (PQMC) is to be considered, nearly 8 million of these insects have managed to spread in different parts of the country.
According to Ram Krishna Subedi, the Information Officer at PQPMC, they have been assessing the damage caused by the locusts in coordination with Agriculture Knowledge Center, technicians at local levels and the farmers: “As per the details we received from the 5 most-affected districts, the crops and vegetables of nearly 1,118 hectares have been spoilt by these insects.”
The damage is not equal everywhere as the insects have done minor damages in some places, according to Subedi, adding that the details of damaged caused in districts like Rukum, Rolpa, and Salyan has not been ascertained so far.
Experts, meanwhile, said that the locusts failed to get a conducive environment in Nepal as the monsoon is active here. The locusts cannot fly when they get wet as they cannot flap the wings. This leads to the end of locusts.
According to english.khabarhub.com, the damage assessment shows that locusts made the largest damage in Dang. The plaguing insects have destroyed corn and vegetables in nearly 100 hectares in Arghakhanchi district as well.