China will send troops of ducks to Pakistan to help battle against a huge locust infestation that poses a threat to regional food security.

At least 100,000 ducks will be deployed 4,827 kilometres (nearly 3,000 miles) from the eastern province of Zhejiang to Pakistan, which shares a border with the Xinjiang province.

Lu Lizhi, a researcher at the Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Agricultural Technology, told local newspaper The Ningbo Evening News the ducks proved to be an effective method of controlling locust infestations 20 years ago.

In 2000, a 700,000-strong army of ducks and chickens were sent to Xinjiang to gain control over swarms of locusts that devoured over 3.8 million hectares of crops and grassland.

At the time, researchers found the ducks were more efficient than chickens at guzzling down the devastating pests.

Locust swarms threaten catastrophe for farmers in East Africa Show all 14 1 /14 Locust swarms threaten catastrophe for farmers in East Africa Locust swarms threaten catastrophe for farmers in East Africa Local farmer Theophilus Mwendwa runs through a swarm of desert locusts to chase them away in Kitui County, Kenya EPA Locust swarms threaten catastrophe for farmers in East Africa A farmer's son walks through a swarm of locusts in Kitui County, Kenya AP Locust swarms threaten catastrophe for farmers in East Africa Locusts swarm on a highway at Lerata village in Kenya AFP/Getty Locust swarms threaten catastrophe for farmers in East Africa Local farmer Theophilus Mwendwa runs through a swarm of desert locusts to chase them away in Kitui County, Kenya EPA Locust swarms threaten catastrophe for farmers in East Africa Local farmer Theophilus Mwendwa runs through a swarm of desert locusts to chase them away in Kitui County, Kenya EPA Locust swarms threaten catastrophe for farmers in East Africa A man chases away a swarm of desert locusts in Kitui County, Kenya EPA Locust swarms threaten catastrophe for farmers in East Africa A farmer walks among a swarm of locusts on grazing land in Galmudug region, Somalia Reuters Locust swarms threaten catastrophe for farmers in East Africa Somali farmers on Saturday urged their government and the international community to help protect their crops from an invasion of locusts that is leaving many unable to feed their families Reuters Locust swarms threaten catastrophe for farmers in East Africa A desert locust plucked from the swarm on farmland in Galmudug region, Somalia Reuters Locust swarms threaten catastrophe for farmers in East Africa The insects have already destroyed 175,000 acres of farmland in Somalia and neighbouring Ethiopia, threatening food supplies in both countries in the worst locust invasion in 70 years, the Food and Agriculture Organisation said on Wednesday Reuters Locust swarms threaten catastrophe for farmers in East Africa A farmer lifts a ketle among a swarm of locusts on grazing land in Galmudug region, Somalia Reuters Locust swarms threaten catastrophe for farmers in East Africa Farmers lift a plastic sheeting to fend off a swarm of locusts on grazing land in Galmudug region, Somalia Reuters Locust swarms threaten catastrophe for farmers in East Africa Boys attempt to fend off a swarm of locusts on farmland in Galmudug region, Somalia Reuters Locust swarms threaten catastrophe for farmers in East Africa Farmers watch on as swarm of locusts descends on grazing land in Galmudug region, Somalia Reuters

Mr Lu told the newspaper: “One duck is able to eat more than 200 locusts a day. They have three times the combat capability.”

He also said ducks were more likely to stay in a group, which made them easier to manage than chickens.

Using ducks as “biological weapons” was a cheaper and more environmentally-friendly alternative to pesticides, added Mr Lu.

State television network China Global Television Network (CGTN) said in a video posted on Twitter: “400 billion locusts are approaching China from the India-Pakistan border.

“100,000 ‘duck troups’ are gathering to prepare for the potential emergency.”

The locusts plaguing Pakistan have prompted prime minister Imran Khan to declare a national emergency earlier this month to protect crops and farmers.

Information Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan said: “We are facing the worst locust infestation in more than two decades and have decided to declare a national emergency to deal with the threat.”

Farmers believe country’s agriculture ministries failed to take action quickly enough to manage the locust outbreak and called for resignations.

According to Pakistani news site The Express Tribune, the Farmers Bureau of Pakistan (FBP) accused federal and provincial ministers of neglect and mismanagement of the agriculture sector.

FBP President Zafar Hayyat told reporters on 6 February: “The locusts which entered into Pakistan almost a year ago have grown and are posing a big threat to the different crops under cultivation.