Millions Of Locusts Are Wreaking Havoc In Rajasthan And Gujarat, The Worst-Of-Its-Kind Invasion

Parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan are in the midst of a deadly invasion by millions and millions of locusts, leaving the farmers there in distress. The invasion which began in October is said to be the worst in over six decades.

According to reports, crops of some 3.6 lakh hectares in 10 districts as western Rajasthan have been damaged by the locusts so far. The Locust Warning Organization (LWO) said that the current wave of attack was by Pink locusts which are flying in from Pakistan.

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According to LWO, these are adult locust with very high capacity to eat and stamina for long-distance migration. ¡°The pink coloured locust is destructive among all breeds of locust. It is 30-45 days of age with very strong wings than the usual black and yellow ones. They fly in gregarious format with speed faster among all breeds and are fatal for rabi crops in progress.¡±ML Gujjar, head of Locust Warning Organization told The Times of India.

A swarm of locust flying over a field in Jaisalmer, last week. Rajasthan is suffering the worst locust attack in last 60 years. This video can¡¯t capture the magnitude. They were all over the sky, on ground. They hit the windshield like thick raindrops during a very heavy shower pic.twitter.com/q59nLQPtHh

¡ª Rajesh Kalra (@rajeshkalra) January 18, 2020

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According to farmers in Rajasthan, this is the second wave of locust attacks since May 2019, which is unprecedented. Farmers say that they have not been able to control the grasshopper due to the sheer number of the locusts flying in, often blanketing an entire area.

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They also said that the local authorities are unable to prevent the attack as the locusts are breeding in Pakistan. The crop loss due to the locust attacks in Rajasthan alone is said to be around Rs 150-200 crores.

The situation in Gujarat is no different. Over 6000 hectares of farmland in Gujarat have been affected by locust attacks over the last two weeks. In Gujrat too the current locust attack is said to be the worst in recent times.

"The locust menace this time was unlike that seen in the region before. This time, it appeared the swarm of locusts would engulf entire north Gujarat, if not controlled," Gujarat, Agriculture Minister R C Faldu had said.

Earlier this week, the Punjab government had said that no incidence of locust attack has been reported in the state, and advises farmers not to get panicky. The state had also ordered a 24X7 surveillance ordered in districts bordering Rajasthan.

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Locusts that fly in large groups invade an area and will eat up all the greenery there. While locust attacks are not anything new in Gujarat and Rajasthan the current spell is different. It is unseasonal and the magnitude is also unprecedented.