Bihar agriculture department braces for locust attack

PATNA/BHAGALPUR: The state agriculture department on Thursday issued an advisory for locust invasion expected in the state in a day or two following largescale crop damages in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and other parts of north India.
The advisory stated that several states have witnessed massive damages to crops and fruits due to desert locust invasion. The swarm of locusts is now moving from the western region towards east and is now seen in the lower areas of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
“If the locusts move further east then there is a possibility of them entering Bihar through east Uttar Pradesh and cause largescale damages to vegetables, trees, crops and fruits. Accordingly, steps are required on a war footing,” the advisory stated.
As per the Food and Agriculture Organisation of United Nations (FAOUN), an adult desert locust can consume roughly its own weight, about 2 gram food every day. A 1sqkm swarm of 40 million locusts could eat the same amount of food in one day as about 35,000 people. This is based on a person eating an average of 2.3 kg of food per day.
A high level meeting chaired by agriculture minister Prem Kumar was held on Thursday on this issue. The minister told TOI that districts bordering east UP, including Gopalganj and Kaimur, have been put on alert for a possible locust attack.
“All district agriculture officers have been asked to ensure sufficient availability of agriculture protection chemicals, sprayers and tractors. List should also be prepared for availability of tractor-mounted sprayers, tractors and fire tenders. The ideal time for spraying recommended agricultural chemicals is from 11am to sunrise,” the minister said.
As per the advisory issued by the agriculture department, the group of locusts take shelter on trees or plants after sunset. Such shelters are to be identified and villagers have been asked to make noise using drums, utensils or boxes made of steel of other metals, which will scare the locusts and drive them away from the villages. Some chemicals have also been suggested for farmers to spray on standing crops or plants in case they witness locust infestation. Besides, the farmers can call at the toll- ree number of agriculture department- 18001801551.
The advisory has directed the formation of locust control committees at all levels of state administration. Agriculture department officials have been asked to seek assistance from universities and agriculture science centres and other insect management centres.
“If needed, drones should be used for spraying pesticides. Another conventional method, like the use of noise making instruments and creating deafening sounds can also be useful in preventing locust attack,” said professor S N Ray, scientist and chairperson in the department of entomology (scientific study of insects) at Bihar Agricultural University (BAU) at Bhagalapur.