PYUTHAN, July 14: There has been a locust invasion again in the district of Pyuthan. Swarms of locusts can be seen in almost all parts of the district. 

The people in the district began scaring locusts away by beating plates and tin to save the maize crops. However, the farmers are worried after their attempts to scare the insects away has not been that effective.

They also applied smoke making fire in the maize fields but in vain. Bhoj Bahadur Basnet from Pyuthan Municipality-1 said they were not able to chase away the locusts coming in a number of hundreds of thousands. Paddy, maize and vegetables are being damaged by the locusts in the district. "The crops are almost blanketed by the locusts. Our efforts failed to save the crops," he shared the plight.

All 10 wards of Pyuthan Municipality have witnessed the locust invasion. 

Officiating chief of Prime Minister Agriculture Modernization Project Implementation Unit (Rice Zone) in the district, Suman Khanal, said every village in the district has seen the locust invasion. The vermin spotted a second time at Bangeshal of Sarumarani Rural Municiplity-1 spreaded to other villages on Monday. Naubahini, Airawati, Gaumukhi, Sarumarani, Mandabi and Jhimruk Rural Municipality suffered the worst in the locust attack, Khanal added. 

The people in the district have been worried over the possible shortage of food after the locusts damaged millet and maize crops amid the COVID-19 lockdown. They demanded the government provide relief to the farmers after ascertaining the loss.

 
• locusts
 
• Pyuthan