Locusts attack East Sumba

Locusts attack East Sumba

WAINGAPU, East Nusa Tenggara: The savanna and steppes of East
Sumba have turned black and brown after "trillions" of locusts
attacked corn and paddy crops in the regency, Antara reported on
Thursday.

Regent Lukas Mb. Kaborang and head of the regency agriculture
office Umbu Kaludang both agreed the problem was hopeless and the
pest could no longer be overcome. The one metric ton of
insecticide sent out by the provincial agriculture office turned
out to be too little to curb, much less prevent, the attack.

As far as the eyes could see, nothing was in the sky but adult
locusts, while the whole land in the regency was covered by baby
locusts, the news agency said.

Fifty-four of the total 106 villages in the regency have been
affected. Locals said this year's attack was far worse than the
one in 1975.

Both officers raised alarm over the danger of food shortages
for both humans and animals because of the attack. (swe)