Desert Locust Invasion Expected in Mid-March

Iran is expecting a desert locust invasion in mid-March. 
Preparations should be made to confront these pests on over 80,000 hectares, according to an official with the Plant Protection Organization of Iran.
“Given the higher than normal levels of precipitation in Saudi Arabia and Oman as well as in our own southern provinces, there is plenty of greenery for locusts to feed on. We have to be vigilant to take necessary measures so no damage is inflicted on our farms and orchards,” Saeed Moein was also quoted as saying by ILNA.
During the first wave of invasion, the provinces of Hormozgan, Bushehr and Sistan-Baluchestan will be affected, he added.
The official predicted that later, southern areas of Fars and Kerman provinces may be affected as well.
“Some 500 billion rials [$1.82 million] were allocated in August to combat desert locust this year. PPO has so far received 100 billion of this budget with which pesticides, toxic sprayers and other equipment have been purchased,” he said.
According to he official, about a third of Iran’s agricultural production takes place in the southern provinces of the country and if the PPO fails to efficiently confront desert locust, some 40 million tons of agronomical and horticultural products will be at risk.