HIL (India), a PSU under Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers has supplied 25 MT Malathion 95% ULV to Iran under Government-to-Government initiative for locust control programme. 

 

India had approached Iran and Pakistan for coordinated response to counter desert locust menace in the region. Iran has expressed its willingness to the proposal and accordingly the Ministry of External Affairs placed an order with HIL (India) Limited, to manufacture and supply 25 MT of Malathion 95% ULV to Iran. The consignment is expected to reach Iran by 16th June 2020. 

 

As per the reports of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the hopper stage population of locust is building up in Sistan-Baluchistan Region of Iran, which shall migrate to India in coming months leading to further crop devastation. The Government of India has taken an initiative to counter the locust menace at its breeding ground itself and approached Iran for coordinated efforts. 

 

Desert Locust after severe crop devastation in Horn of Africa, East Africa and Arabian Peninsula has entered into India in March/April 2020 and it has affected the field crop, horticulture crops and other plantations in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. The country is experiencing the worst locust invasion, which was last observed more than 25 years back. 

 

HIL (India) is also supplying Malathion 95% ULV to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Locust Control Programme in the country. From 2019 till date, HIL (India) has supplied more than 600 MT of Malathion 95% ULV for this programme.