Locusts may hit East Kalimantan

SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: Officials have warned of a locust attack on rice fields in the dry season which begins in September and may last until January 2000, Antara reported on Friday.

The locust, locally known as Belalang Kembara (Lacusta Migratoria) hit 2,000 hectares of farming area of Sangkulirang and Muara Wahau districts in Kutai regency during the dry season last year, according to Sofyan Alex, head of the provincial farming and horticulture agency.

In a bid to control the pest, the local administration has assigned several surveillance officials to monitor the fields as well as establish a necessary insecticide formula, the news agency said. (edt)