Chinese satellite images helpful in controlling locust plague

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services) 

The satellite images and meteorological data provided by China’s meteorological satellites can be useful to monitor Pakistan’s desert locusts thus preempted steps can greatly help crops from severe damage.

An official of China Meteorological Administration (CMA) disclosed, on July 22, having released special reports based on remote sensing data of locust attacks in Pakistan. 

“China’s Fengyun series satellites can generate information for analysis of locust-affected areas by monitoring rainfall, soil moisture and land surface temperature (LST) changes taking place in African and South Asian countries,” the CMA expert noted. 

He explained that hotter and wetter climate added more multiplication of locusts' population. The studies have also linked wind direction, speed, and other weather parameters to the migration of locusts. 

According to an update issued by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations (UN), the summer breeding of desert locust swarms has commenced in Pakistan’s Tharparkar, Nara and Cholistan deserts where hatching and band formation may increase later this month.