Sources from the anti-locust commanding office say that locusts are plaguing a vast area of Tacheng, Yili and some other areas in northern Xinjiang.
An incomplete statistics up to June 10 revealed that the affected areas had already come to some 20 million Mu of land. The locust disaster will see a further spread in a wider and faster way as the increasing number of locusts are being hatched out along with the intensification of heat and drought.
As reported, there are more than 150 locust species in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. This year, the low temperature in spring put off the hatching of locust's eggs some 10-20 days. However, there is no reduction in its numerousness. In some areas, the situation might be more serious when locusts from Russia, Kazakstan and other bordering countries migrated to this area. Should no effective measures be taken, it will cause a big threat to the agricultural production in the north.
Currently, three plans are on their anti-locust campaign in north Xinjiang. All efforts are being made to nip them in the bud.
(People's Daily 06/11/2001)
