FAO’s locust update: risk of swarm migration in coming weeks

Control operations carried out in 3,83,631 hectares: Focus on Rajasthan, Gujarat

GN Bureau | July 23, 2020


#Rajasthan   #agriculture   #FAO   #Locusts   #Gujarat  
The FAO image of the desert locust global forecast for July 2020
The FAO image of the desert locust global forecast for July 2020

Even as India, along with the world, continues to battle the Covid-19 pandemic, it also has to fight another menace: Locusts. The Food and Agriculture Organization’s Locust Status Update of July 21 indicates that the risk of swarm migration from Horn of Africa prevails in coming weeks.

In Somalia, the swarms are moving eastwards across the north and a limited number of swarms could migrate across the Indian Ocean to the Indo-Pakistan border area; during the remainder of this month, an official release of the agriculture ministry said Wednesday.

See the FAO forecast map here: http://www.fao.org/ag/locusts/common/ecg/75/en/200708forecastE.jpg

The FAO is organizing a weekly virtual meeting on Desert Locust of South-West Asian countries (Afghanistan, India, Iran and Pakistan). So far, 15 virtual meetings of the technical officers of South West Asian countries have taken place so far, the release said.

Between April 11 and July 21, Locust Circle Offices (LCOs) have carried out control operations in 1,95,450 hectares area in the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. Till July 21, control operations have been done in 1,88,181 hectares area in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Bihar by state governments.

In the intervening night of July 21-22, LCOs carried out control operations at 29 places in 11 districts of Rajasthan: Jaisalmer, Barmer, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Churu, Sikar, Nagaur, Jaipur, Pali, Hanumangarh, and Sriganganagar. The Rajasthan state agriculture department also carried out control operations at two places in Dausa district in the same night against small groups and scattered population of locusts.

Currently, 104 control teams with spray vehicles are deputed/deployed in the Rajasthan and Gujarat, and more than 200 central government personnel are engaged in locust control operations. Further, five companies with 15 drones are deployed at Barmer, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Nagaur and Phalodi in Rajasthan for effective control of locusts on tall trees and in inaccessible areas through spraying of pesticides. A Bell helicopter has been deployed in Rajasthan for use in Scheduled Desert Area as per the need. Indian Air Force also has conducted trials in anti-locust operation by using a Mi-17 helicopter. The results are encouraging.

No significant crop losses have been reported in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Haryana. However, some minor crop losses have been reported in some districts of Rajasthan.

As of Wednesday, swarms of immature pink locusts and adult yellow locusts are active in Jaisalmer, Barmer, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Churu, Sikar, Nagaur, Jaipur, Pali, Hanumangarh, Sriganganagar and Dausa districts of Rajasthan.


 

Comments

 

Other News

Operation Sindoor combined hard power with diplomatic finesse

Since guns have fallen silent in India and Pakistan following their ceasefire after four days of conflict, attention has now shifted to New Delhi’s next steps. The Indian government, as per media reports, is considering sending a multi-party delegation to several countries to engage with foreign gove

Rajnath Singh calls upon IMF to reconsider financial assistance to Pakistan

Stating that Pakistan has again started to rebuild its terror infrastructure destroyed by India, defence minister Rajnath Singh called upon the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to reconsider its one-billion-dollar assistance to Islamabad and refrain from providing any support in future as well.

12 of Maharashtra`s 48 govt departments rated top performers

Maharashtra`s Home and Mining departments, headed by ACS and ex BMC commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal, are among the 12 top performing departments scoring 100% objectives set out for the respective department. After the formation of Mahayuti government, in a first of its kind exercise chief mi

Cabinet approves semiconductor unit in Uttar Pradesh

The union cabinet chaired by the prime minister on Wednesday approved the establishment of one more semiconductor unit under India Semiconductor Mission. There are already five semiconductor units in advanced stages of construction. With this sixth unit, India moves forward in its journey to

"Operation Sindoor a new benchmark in our fight against terrorism"

Prime minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation Monday evening. Here is the approximate English translation of the speech delivered in Hindi, according to an official release: My dear countrymen, Namaskar! In the past days, we all have witnessed both the strength a

Maharashtra, defence forces to enhance coordination

In response to escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, a high-level strategic meeting was convened at chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’s official residence, Varsha, on Monday to bolster security measures and enhance coordination between the Maharashtra government and the defence forces.

Visionary Talk: Amitabh Gupta, Pune Police Commissioner with Kailashnath Adhikari, MD, Governance Now



Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter