NEW DELHI, May 31, 2020 (BSS) – India has been battling with its worst desert locust outbreak in decades as the swarms reported in several parts of the country prompting central to promise help to all affected states.
“Many parts of the country are under locust attack. These attacks have reminded us that how much damage this small insect could cause,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi here today.
Promising central support on his monthly radio address styled ‘Mann ki Baat’, PM Modi said, “Adopting new innovations, I am confident that we will be able to deal with this crisis in agriculture sector”.
According to Indian agriculture ministry, locust swarms have entered Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh from Pakistan threatening major damage mainly to standing cotton crops and vegetables.
The desert locusts have engulfed around 35,000 hectares in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh since entering India on April 11, official sources said.
The swarms of locusts has now gone further inside with administration in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj (in eastern part of the state) preparing for a possible attack from the migratory pests.
There are three major regions – Dausa in Rajasthan, Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh, Chattarpur district of Madhya Pradesh – where the locusts have attacked predominately.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra government has asked people to burst firecrackers and beat drums to prevent attacks by locust swarms.
The crop munching insects currently headed to Dausa and Karauli districts in Rajasthan may tilt direction towards Delhi if wind patterns change, experts have warned.
A swarm can cover a distance of 15 km in a day and one that covers an area of a square kilo metre can eat as much food as 35,000 people in terms of weight.
Central and state bodies have stepped up efforts to control the menace as it poses crop vulnerability and threat to food safety if the outbreak is not contained.
The Locust Warning Organisation (LWO) under the ministry of agriculture sources said drones are being used for aerial spraying of Malathion 96, an organophosphate insecticide and a potentially toxic chemical for non-cropped areas.
Farmers in various areas are using indigenous method like beating utensils, drums and plates in a bid to drive away the locusts.
The desert locust is a species of locust, a swarming short-horned grasshopper. They are known to devour everything in their path, posing an unprecedented threat to food supply and livelihoods of millions of people