Locust attack: Drones to spray chemicals

PATNA: Agriculture minister Prem Kumar on Saturday said the state government will use drones for spraying chemicals to tackle any possible locust attack.
Five western Bihar districts bordering eastern UP — Kaimur, Buxar, Siwan, Gopalganj and West Champaran— are living under the fear of locust invasion.
“Till now, locusts have not entered Kaimur. I contacted officials in UP. They said locusts had turned towards MP, but here in Kaimur we are not taking any chances,” Kaimur DM Dr Nawal Kishor Choudhary said, adding, he held a district-level meeting, besides alerting BDOs and circle officers as well as farmers.
The minister said officials at the state headquarters held a meeting on Friday to collect feedback including, seeking advice from experts at agriculture universities and seeking assistance from Krishi Vigyan Kendras.
Further, the use of traditional methods like using drums and ‘nagaras’ as well as beating plates and tin cans to create noise to scare away the locusts have also been advised. A detailed advisory has also been issued asking officials to procure special chemicals to be sprayed using drones when locust invasion takes place in any area.
The invasion of swarms started from Africa, entered Pakistan through Yemen and Iran, and then entered India through Rajasthan in April, reports said. By mid-May, they entered UP hitting western Agra and Jhansi areas, and also threatened to sweep across the Gangetic basin on the east.
“Locusts have not yet entered Kaimur district, but farmers are fearful. The locusts eat vegetables, leaves, crops and also leaves of trees,” Mohania MLA from Kaimur Niranjan Ram said.