Locust Invasion Could Get Worse As Another Swarm To Enter India In July, 7 States To Bear Brunt

India is in the grip of what is being described as the worst locust invasion in the country in three decades. While that is bad enough, it is only going to get worse in the coming days.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, there is going to be another swarm of locusts arriving in India by July. There are reports of widespread breading of locusts in East African countries and in Pakistan. These swarms will later fly towards India and are likely to enter the country by the end of June or early July.

AFP

The warning comes at a time when the desert locusts have already reached Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana, causing massive damages to the vegetation there. However, the damage is not that high as it is the season between on harvest and the crop.

In Rajasthan, one of the worst affected states, the government said that locust attacks were controlled in 11,6091 hectares at 383 places after surveying 14,80858 hectares.

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In a report, the state agriculture department said that the first locust attack was witnessed in Jaisalmer and Sriganganagar districts on April 11 and the latest attack was witnessed in the Alwar district on May 30. The report stated that the department has granted 120 vehicles for surveillance, 45 vehicles, 800 tractors mounted sprayers, 3200 water tankers to control the attack of locusts. Recently, the Agriculture Department used drones to monitor the movement of the locusts in Jaipur's Samode.

Dr. Om Prakash Choudhary, Commissioner, Agricultural Department said, "We will use drones to monitor locusts in the terrains which are difficult for us to access." India needs to stop the infestation from spreading further to ensure the swarms do not devour summer crops.

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"We've been rather lucky that we've got a week or two to get our acts together and stop locusts before summer sowing gathers momentum," said Bhagirath Choudhary, director of the South Asia Biotech Centre, a non-profit scientific society.

But, if the attack from swarms of locusts is not curtailed, horticulture production will be impacted, according to a sector report by Motilal Oswal Financial Services. These states cumulatively contribute 38 per cent to India's 312 million tonnes of horticulture production. Vegetables constitute 59 per cent of the production. About 31 per cent of the horticulture production comes from fruits.

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"If the locust attack is not curtailed, horticulture production at these states will be impacted. Generally, January to March is the period for the sowing of sugarcane. Any locust attack may impact sugarcane crop in Uttar Pradesh which constitutes 45 per cent to the normal sugarcane sowing area of India," said the report.