India steps up efforts to curb locust infestation

NEW DELHI, June 2: Battling its worst desert locust outbreak in a long time, India is ordering new tools to manage the swarms earlier than summer time crop-sowing gathers tempo in the course of this month.

India has introduced the locusts below management at 399 places in 5 states has positioned an order to purchase 60 new insecticide spraying machines, two authorities sources mentioned.

Authorities have used specialist autos fireplace engines to spray pesticides in an space of 55,542 hectares within the western states of Gujarat, Rajasthan Maharashtra, central state of Madhya Pradesh Punjab, Haryana Uttar Pradesh within the north.

The authorities additionally plans to purchase 5 helicopter-mounted spray techniques to curb the fast-spreading swarms by mid-June when monsoon rains assist farmers enhance rice, cane, corn, cotton soybean sowing, in accordance with the sources, who’re instantly concerned in formulating plans to sort out the scourge.

Nearly half of the 60 insecticide spraying machines will arrive this week, they mentioned.

India must cease the infestation from spreading additional to make sure the swarms don’t devour summer time crops.

“We’ve been moderately fortunate that we’ve acquired every week or two to get our acts collectively cease locusts earlier than summer time sowing gathers momentum,” mentioned Bhagirath Choudhary, director of the South Asia Biotech Centre, a non-profit scientific society.

The locust infestation has not brought about vital harm to date because of the lean season – the hole between the earlier harvest the subsequent planting season.

The farm ministry needs to be allowed to make use of drones to spray pesticides on huge swathes of northern, western central plains – the primary farm belt, Choudhary mentioned.