Govt's locust operation covers 1.33 lakh hectares in North, West India

NEW DELHI: The government has carried out locust control operations across 1,32,777 hectares area in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
“Presently 60 control teams with spray vehicles are deployed in these states and more than 200 central government personnel are working together with state governments to curb the menace of locusts, which pose threat to crops,” said a senior agriculture ministry official.

He said that 5 companies with 12 drones are deployed at Barmer, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Nagaur and Phalodi in Rajasthan for effective control of locusts on tall trees and in inaccessible areas through spraying of pesticides.

“No significant crop losses have been reported except in some districts of Rajasthan,” he said.

Food and Agriculture Organization’s latest update on Locust says swarms from Somalia are likely to migrate to the summer breeding areas along the Indo-Pakistan border. In Pakistan, some swarms have started laying eggs in southeast Sindh near the Indian border while swarms hopper bands are forming in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“Weekly virtual meeting on Desert Locust of South-West Asian countries including Afghanistan, India, Iran and Pakistan is being organised by FAO. Fifteen virtual meetings of the technical officers of South West Asian countries have taken place so far,” he said.