After crossing Gurugram and the National capital, the swarm of thousands locust has now entered into the several districts of Uttar Pradesh, including Jhansi, Chitrakoot, Prayagraj, Pratapgarh, Bhadohi, Azamgarh and Ambedkar Nagar. As per the recent reports, locust swarms have invaded several districts in the past 48 hours and attacked trees and crops in these districts. Amid the corona crisis, locust attack is the second biggest tragedy for farmers of these two big states.
The government and the authority have been taking possible measures to stop the menace and asked officials to stay alert. As per reports, drones, tractor mounted sprayers and fire tender vehicles have been deployed to undertake locust control. However, it hardly able to control the massive locust attack which is heading towards the farmlands of UP.
"A swarm of locusts had come to Deoria, but they descended only on the Baisila Mainuddin village. Villagers made noise and chased them away. The swarm has gone towards Kushinagar. We are spraying chemicals to kill the pests and all districts have been put on alert", said state Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi.
Locust Control Operations are rapidly spreading in these States
Locust control operations are going on in the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, Punjab and Maharashtra, says the recent press release of Agriculture department.
In total 60 grounds, control teams of Locust Circle Offices and 12 Drones are being used for Locust Control operations. The Locust Warning Organization and 10 Locust Circle Offices in coordination with State Governments undertake locust control operations in schedule desert areas of Rajasthan and Gujarat. The State Governments through their Agriculture Departments undertake locust control in the cropped area. This year starting from 11th April 2020, in this season 1,27,225 hectares have been controlled till 26th June 2020.
One swarm of 2 km x 4 km size which was previously controlled in Jhunjhunu district (Rajasthan) on 26th June 2020 moved to Rewari district in Haryana.
This swarm in Rewari was controlled by the State Agriculture Department deploying 40 tractors and 4 fire brigade vehicles. Two Ground control teams and officers of Locust Circle office were also present and joined them. Control operations were carried out from midnight to early morning hours on 27th June 2020.
The leftover swarm initially moved towards Jhajjar district in the morning and thereafter turned towards east following the wind direction. This swarm split into 3-4 smaller swarms. One moved towards Nuh (Haryana) and two swarms moved over Gurugram, moving further towards U.P.
Two teams deployed in Haryana are following these swarms. Five more ground control teams have been moved from Nagaur and Jaipur in Rajasthan to join the operations in U.P. Drones have also been moved from Jaisalmer to join operations. State Agriculture Departments of Haryana & U.P. have been continuously kept informed and they are making necessary arrangements for control wherever the swarm finally settles.
