New Delhi: HIL (India) Limited, a PSU under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers and one of the leading manufacturer of insecticides in the country, has supplied 25 MT Malathion 95% ULV to Iran under the government-to-government initiative 'Locust Control Programme.' This information has been given by the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers in a press release on Monday.

'India had recently 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 (MEA) placed an order with HIL (India) Limited, to manufacture and supply 25MT of Malathion 95% ULV to Iran. The consignment is expected to reach Iran by June 16,' the release further said.  

As per the reports of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the hopper stage population of the 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 and it has affected the field crop, horticulture crops and other plantation in the state of 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) Limited is also supplying Malathion 95% ULV to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer's Welfare Locust Control Programme in the country. From 2019 till date the company has supplied more than 600 MT of Malathion 95% ULV for this programme.

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