Illustrative photo (Source: VNA) Cao Bang (VNA) – By June 15, grasshoppers have damaged 500 hectares of crops in the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang, putting local farmers at risk of having a bad harvest.
Grasshoppers have appeared in seven districts and Cao Bang city, with Nguyen Binh, Thach An and Hoa An suffering the biggest damage.
Population density was estimated at between 50-100 grasshoppers per square metre on average. In some particular places, the figure even reached 1,000 per square metre.
The insects have mainly attacked maize, paddy, tobacco and bamboo.
This is the second year Nguyen Binh district’s Thinh Vuong commune has faced grasshopper epidemic. Local authorities disbursed 5 million VND (220 USD) to help famers buy pesticides to prevent the insects but failed to save local maize fields.
To prevent the grasshopper epidemic from spreading, the provincial agriculture sector has sprayed pesticides on 357 out of 500 affected hectares of crops.-VNA
VNA
