Bamboo locusts "destroy" agricultural crops in 11 northern provinces, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development directs prevention and control

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, since the beginning of 2024, the average temperature in the midland and mountainous areas of the North has been 1-20 degrees Celsius higher than the average of many years, with many days of light rain and drizzle. At the same time, the hot weather appeared early and was very harsh, which was very favorable for bamboo locusts to arise and cause damage early from mid-April 2024.

Currently, bamboo locusts have emerged and caused damage in 11/16 provinces of the Northern Midlands and Mountains including Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Dien Bien, Lang Son, Son La, Dien Bien, Tuyen Quang, Hoa Binh, Phu Tho, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An with an infected area of ​​1,031 hectares (of which Cao Bang is infected with 773 hectares, Bac Kan 63 hectares, Nghe An 50 hectares, Lang Son 38.5 hectares, Phu Tho 38.2 hectares, Tuyen Quang 21 hectares, Thanh Hoa 20 hectares, Son La 10 hectares, Hoa Binh 7 hectares and Dien Bien 0.5 hectares).

Currently, most young locusts do not have wings, so prevention will be easy and effective. In the next 10-20 days, young locusts will turn into adults with wings and fly in swarms, moving quickly, making it difficult to prevent and potentially causing serious damage to many crops if not detected early and controlled promptly.

To proactively prevent and minimize damage caused by bamboo locusts in the coming time, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development recommends that the People's Committees of the provinces direct the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the People's Committees of districts and communes, and specialized agencies and units to investigate and detect early locust nests in the area and organize spraying while the locusts are still young; closely monitor the situation of bamboo locusts (time of emergence, scope of damage, direction of movement, locust clustering points, etc.) to proactively organize prevention and control, not allowing widespread outbreaks.

Yellow-backed locusts cling to and destroy corn leaves of farmers in Muong Chanh commune, Muong Lat district (Thanh Hoa) - Photo: BINH AN

Localities, especially districts and communes where bamboo locusts frequently appear, need to proactively develop plans, budget estimates, and prepare adequate conditions for materials and human resources to be ready for bamboo locust control.

Direct local media agencies to coordinate with specialized agencies to disseminate information and instruct forest owners and people to check for the presence of bamboo locusts and proactively implement timely and effective measures to handle locusts, avoiding widespread spraying of chemicals that waste chemicals and affect the ecological environment.

Direct border guards in border areas to coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and People's Committees of districts in exchanging information about the situation of bamboo locusts in border areas.

Direct specialized agencies and units to maintain information systems and reports from local to central levels according to regulations for timely coordination and direction.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development also directed the Plant Protection Department to act as the focal point for advising, directing and guiding localities in implementing technical solutions in preventing and controlling bamboo locusts; Urge the inspection, supervision, investigation, detection and prevention of bamboo locusts in provinces and cities; Synthesize and report to the Ministry on the situation of emergence and development of bamboo locusts causing damage to crops and the direction of prevention and control in provinces and cities.

The Department of Crop Production, the Department of Forestry and the Department of Forestry coordinate with the Plant Protection Department and localities to inspect and supervise the investigation, detection and prevention of bamboo locusts in provinces and cities; support localities in the investigation, detection, forecasting and guidance on bamboo locust prevention.

Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences: Directs member institutes to coordinate with the Plant Protection Department to study biological characteristics and propose effective and safe technical measures to prevent and control bamboo locusts.

Source: https://danviet.vn/chau-chau-tre-tan-pha-cay-nong-nghiep-cua-11-tinh-phia-bac-bo-nnptnt-chi-dao-phong-chong-20240613180034787.htm