Using drones to spray insecticide to kill locusts.

In Nghe An province, locusts destroyed over 100 hectares of forest and crops, forcing authorities to spend nearly 140 million VND to hire drones to spray insecticide.

Locusts have been appearing in large numbers in the bamboo forests of Hamlet 7, Nghia Binh Commune, Tan Ky District since mid-April. Of the 150 hectares of bamboo in Hamlet 7, approximately 100 hectares have been devastated by locusts, leaving the leaves bare. In addition, some corn fields have also been attacked by these insects.

Mr. Nguyen Van Trinh, Deputy Director of the Tan Ky District Agricultural Services Center, said that over the past week, the District People's Committee has allocated nearly 140 million VND to rent drones for preventative spraying. "Locusts feed in swarms, so we have to spray in a way that surrounds them to prevent them from moving to residential areas and industrial crop zones. To date, about 450 hectares of forest damaged by locusts have been brought under control," Mr. Trinh said.

Using drones to kill locusts. — Authorities used drones to spray insecticide to kill locusts in the bamboo forests of Nghia Binh commune, Tan Ky district. Video : *Hung Le*

According to authorities, the initial use of drones has shown effectiveness, helping to preserve some mangrove forests. However, this method has limitations due to the complex terrain; spraying pesticides in the forest is not as even as in lowland fields, and controlling the drone from a distance may miss some spots.

This is the second time Tan Ky district has used drones to spray insecticide to kill locusts, following the first time in 2021. Nearly 200 hectares are affected, and for the remaining areas, the relevant authorities will hold a meeting to discuss continuing drone spraying. For other crops, the authorities are not organizing centralized spraying, encouraging farmers to eradicate them manually or with personal sprayers.

The government hired a drone to spray insecticide to kill locusts at a cost of nearly 140 million VND. Photo: Hung Le — The government hired drones to spray insecticide to kill locusts at a cost of nearly 140 million VND. Photo: *Hung Le*

According to the Deputy Director of the Tan Ky District Agricultural Service Center, people mainly grow bamboo to harvest shoots for sale. In addition, the stems can be used or sold as construction materials. While the bamboo plants don't die from locusts, they lose their leaves, reducing shoot yield and impacting income.

The agricultural sector in Tan Ky district assesses that this year has seen the highest number of locust eggs ever recorded in the area. The reason is that last year's egg supply was abundant, and the prolonged hot weather was suitable for the growth of this insect.

"Locusts breed in swarms; when they hatch underground, there are thousands of them per square meter. Then they molt and grow larger. After about two months, they mature, lay eggs, and die. By August, they're completely gone," Mr. Trinh said.

Grasshoppers are clinging densely to the branches of the bamboo grove. Photo: Hung Le — Grasshoppers are clinging densely to the branches of the bamboo grove. Photo: *Hung Le*

Grasshoppers are leaf-eating insects belonging to the order Orthoptera, with a round head, a stout body, and excellent jumping abilities, particularly destructive to green plants. When moving, they can crawl on all three pairs of legs on trees, jump from tree to tree using their hind legs, or jump and fly into the air using their wings.

Duc Hung

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