ISLAMABAD: As the latest desert locust situation update released by the Food and Agriculture Organisation says Pakistan should remain on `high alert` over the next four weel(s, the FAO on Monday handed over 20 ultra low volume (ULV) pesticides micron sprayers and other equipment to the Ministry of National Food Security and Research to boost desert locust surveillance and control efforts of the government.

The procurement of the sprayers for pesticide and protective gear, funded by the British governmentthrough its Department for International Development (DFID), and the GPS devices, was made by the FAO through its core funding.

Breeding has ended in southern Iran and southwest Pakistan where locust infestations are rapidly declining as a result of control operations and migration to the summer breading areas along the India-Pakistan border. At the same time, spring-bred adult groups and swarms continue to appear along the India-Pakistan border, according to the situation update.

Another 30 ULV sprayers are in the pipeline and will be delivered later this summer as part of the FAO technical assistance to support the govern-ment in its efforts to tackle the outbreak of desert locust in the country.

The procurement of sprayers for vehicles, 1,303 personal protection equipment (PPE) and 100 global positioning system (GPS) satellite communicator devices will also help protect livelihoods and food security of millions of small farmers across the country who are already affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

This upgraded equipment for control operations and new technology for surveillance will contribute to scaling up ground surveillance and control operations that are currently under way to curb the largest desert locust infestation in 25 years in the country.