• By Abhinav Gupta
  • Tue, 26 May 2020 02:31 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND
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New Delhi | Jagran News Desk: The Desert Locusts, who act together in the form of enormous Swarms, continue to threaten the agricultural livelihood of many Indians through their unfathomable attacks on the crop fields, entered the country via Western borders with Pakistan in early April, and have since attacked the crop fields in five states -- Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Touted as the worst Locust attack in 27-years with severe consequences for India's agri-economy, efforts are going on to stop the Locust infestation in all the affected states in North India. According to Union Minister of Agriculture, Locust attacks so far have been controlled in close to 14,000 hectares huge crop fields in Punjab and Rajasthan.

What are Desert Locusts?

Considered as the most destructive migratory pest in the world, one single swarm covering a kilometre radius can have as many as eight crore locusts, whose enormous appetite can finish off the food stocks growing in the crop fields of similar area in less than an hour.

The strictly-plant eating Locusts look like a common grasshopper. They have two big hind legs with which they can hop upon the surfaces like grasshoppers. In dry spells of weather they mobilise together in a huge numbers, which can destroy massive swathes of vegetation within hours and days.

How the swarms entered India?

According to an India Today report, the swarms of desert locust entered India via Pakistan this April where they flew in from Iran last year. From Rajasthan, locusts entered Madhya Pradesh via Neemuch and have advanced to Ujjain and Dewas. The locust swarms have also made their way to Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Where have the Locusts infested upon the crops?

As full-fledged swarms, the Locusts recently attacked the residential colonies of Rajasthan's Jaipur. They attacked the trees when they couldn't find the crop patches. 500,000 hectares-huge crop fields have been destroyed in Rajasthan alone, mainly in Sri Ganganagar, Bikaner and Barmer districts.
Gujarat's Amreli and Bhavnagar, too, have been vigorously impacted by Locust Swarm attacks, although not as vigorously as Rajasthan.
Uttar Pradesh government also has released the list of 17 districts likely to be affected by Swarm attacks, namely, Jhansi, Mahoba, Hamirpur, Agra, Aligarh, Mathura, Bulandshahr, Hathras, Etah, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Etawah, Farrukhabad, Auraiya, Jalaun, Kanpur and Lalitpur. The swarms, reportedly have already been sighted in Jhansi and Agra.

News agency ANI recently reported a large swarm of locust destroying crops while farmers are trying to push them away in Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur.

Impact on agricultural economy

The massive attacks on crop fields can lead to a phenomenon called Locust Plague, when the entire crop season is taken away through the strike of Locust swarms on the crop fields. The farmers are worred that the insects will wipe out their moong beans crops, which are cultivated during summer resulting into huge financial blow on them. The attack by locust swarms is a double-hit on the agricultural economy which is already suffering from the coronavirus pandemic.  

How to stop the Locust Swarms from destroying crop fields?

In Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, farmers are reportedly using desperate tactics such as beating steel utensils during late afternoons and evenings, playing loud music at night, creating wood-fire and running the tractor inside their fields, to scare away the notorious swarms of locusts. Governments in these states have been readying the vehicles to spray the chemicals on crop fields to repel the Locusts.

Local authorities have been put on alert in eastern Maharashtra in Central India, and Bundelkhand's districts in UP.

Reports have suggested that global warming can increase the chances of locust attacks significantly. Rising temperature diminishes rain, which means more dry spells and more locust swarms.