North Indian states under attack by locusts, the “flying terrorists”

Locusts are being treated as a big threat to crops in India this year, reported the Agriculture department. The tropical grasshoppers that have been crossing over from Pakistan’s Sindh province since April 11 are said to be bigger this year.

 

The swarms of locusts have already invaded around 90,000 hectares in Rajasthan and are now crossing over to Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

 

The Locust Warning Organization (LWO), a part of Union Agriculture Ministry, situated in Jodhpur said that last year locusts came after a gap of 26 years, and were mature affecting 12 districts in Rajasthan. Whereas, this year the locusts are immature having crossed the India-Pakistan border soon after birth.

 

Immature locusts are deemed to cause more harm due to their longer life span. The breeding grounds in Balochistan this year are the reason of mass movement of 10-12 days old locusts towards Thar desert. The immature locusts are flying from there in search of food.

 

These locusts that flew from Sudan and Eritrea on Africa’s Red Sea coast post heavy rain, were breeding in Iran, as reported by LWO.

 

Swarms of locusts can travel to a distance of 150 km in a day with a speed of 15-20 km per hour. The officials further said that since there is no standing crop in fields, the locusts are attacking trees and whatever vegetation they can. This is also the reason being cited for them to travel from Pakistan into India, in search of food.

 

Regarding the infestation control, around 800 tractors being operated by 200 teams are spraying to neutralize the locusts.

 

LWO Deputy Director K.L. Gurjar said that the biggest challenge would be once the locusts start breeding. The locusts lay egg during the time of monsoon onset and continue to breed for two more months. This will lead to new insects at the time of kharif crops.

 


Source: 


https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/locust-attack-about-90000-hectares-hit-in-20-rajasthan-districts/article31694494.ece?homepage=true

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