Experts at a seminar called for stepped up efforts to overcome swarm of locust incurring a loss of billions of rupees to agriculture sector.

The seminar titled awareness about locust and its management strategies was arranged by Office of Research Innovational and Commercialization, University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF). Chairing the session, UAF Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Ashraf urged the scientists to conduct the tangible researches on the issues so that the insect population and attack could be minimized. He said that unluckily, no solid research solution had been produced so far especially on locust, CLCV, Shesham dieback, whitefly, and termite . He stressed the need for scientific research about potential of locusts to cause harm to the crops as well as mitigation measures against them. He said that the university was strictly making fruitful efforts to benefit the farming community. Faculty of Agriculture Dean Dr Muhammad Aslam Khan said that unfortunately, we don’t take action until the attack of the insect occurred. We must identify rearing causes and take the precautionary measures. He said that the current situation relating to locusts in the country was “most serious”. ORIC Director Dr Zahir Ahmad Zahir said that the university research portfolio had crossed to Rs 2.5 billion. He said that the university was running multiple research projects with a special focus on agriculture and rural development. Department of Entomology Prof Dr Sohail Ahmad said that it is among 20 migrant insects which runs 200 KM in 12 hour. He said that they were conducting the research work on the issue that will help the farming community, Dr Khawar Jawad from Ayub Research and Dr Abdur Rasheed from ORIC also spoke on the occasion.