MUSCAT: Dr Fuad bin Jaafar al Sajwani, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, on Sunday signed at the ministry HQs’ with Al Areeq Equipment, the contract for aerial spraying for combatting the Dubas bug during spring 2017, during the period from March 6 to April 30. The programme, which costs about RO 452,000, will cover about 20,000 feddans of affected areas; depending on the infection levels and the outcomes of the field surveys. As per the contract, two Bell B-III 206 jets provided with the latest aerial spraying equipment and technical teams will be provided. The team will also use the pesticides recommended for ULV to combat such infection with aerial spraying. The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has been on the habit of combatting the Dubas bug which cause great damage not only to date palm trees but the nearby plants as well. The regular surveys point out that the data palm trees are affected by about 54 types of insects and spiders with the Dubas bug on top of them. — ONA
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