Lok Sabha Question No. 282 (STARRED), answered on 2021-03-16
Subject: Crop Losses by Locust Attacks
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Mitesh Rameshbhai (Bakabhai) Patel, Shardaben Anilbhai Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION & FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 282

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  16 TH  MARCH, 2021

## CROP LOSSES BY LOCUST ATTACKS

†*282.     SHRI MITESH RAMESHBHAI PATEL (BAKABHAI): SHRIMATI SHARDABEN ANILBHAI PATEL:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the locust swarms have caused much loss to crops in the country during the last three years and the current year and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the  details  of  the  total  crop  losses  caused  by  locust  attacks  during  the  said  period, State-wise;
- (c) the amount of compensation provided by the Government to the farmers affected in this regard; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to deal with the problem of locust swarms?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

- कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA  SINGH TOMAR) (a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 282    DUE FOR REPLY ON 16 TH  MARCH, 2021.

(a) & (b): Locust  attack  is  not  a  regular  phenomenon  and  large  scale  incursions  occur characteristically  in  cycles  of  heightened  activity  for  a  couple  of  years  followed  by  long periods of inactivity. Locust attack was reported in India during 2019-20 and 2020-21 which is an example of one such large scale locust upsurge, when locust migrated to India after a gap of  26  years.  During  2019-20,  locust  incursion  was  reported  in  three  States  of  Rajasthan, Gujarat and Punjab, while in 2020-21, there was locust incursion in ten States of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and  Maharashtra.  However,  due  to  the  concerted  and  coordinated  efforts  of  the  Central Government,  State  Governments  and  the  Farmers  the  Locust  incursions  were  effectively controlled.

During 2019-20, the State Government of Punjab had reported no crop loss. However, the State Governments of Rajasthan and Gujarat had reported crop loss in 1,79,584 hectares and 19,313.14 hectares respectively.

During 2020-21, State Governments of Punjab, Bihar and Chhattisgarh have reported no crop loss in their States. However, State Government of Haryana has reported minimal crop loss much below the norms of compensation. State Government of Uttar Pradesh has reported a very nominal crop loss in 202.9 hectares. State Governments of Maharashtra and Uttarakhand have reported crop loss of below 33% in 805.80 hectares and 292.4 hectares respectively. State Government of Madhya Pradesh has reported a partial crop loss of 1015% in 4400 hectares. State Government of Rajasthan has reported crop loss of above 33% in  489.72  hectares.  State  Government  of  Gujarat  has  reported  crop  loss  of  below  33%  in 6832.20 hectares.

(c): For 2019-20, the State Government of Rajasthan has reported that an amount of Rs. 132.38 crore was disbursed to 79,922 beneficiaries through State Disaster Response Fund as Agriculture Input Subsidy and an amount of Rs. 195.48 crore was disbursed to 1,44,948 beneficiaries through Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.  Against a memorandum submitted by State Government of Rajasthan for financial assistance for damage of crop due to Locust (pest) attack in Rajasthan, Government of India has approved and released assistance of Rs. 68.65 crore from National Disaster Response Fund to the State.

State  Government  of  Gujarat  has  reported  that  during  2019-20,  an  amount  of Rs.18.21  crore  was  provided  to  8836  affected  farmers.  In  Gujarat  Rs.  13,500  per  hectare was provided from State Disaster Response Fund and an additional amount of Rs. 5,000 per hectare was provided from State budget for maximum up to 2 hectares to affected farmers.

For 2020-21, State Government of Uttar Pradesh has reported that an amount of Rs. 3,25,475  was  provided  to  112  affected  farmers.  The  State  Government  of  Rajasthan  has reported that compensation of crop loss in under process.

(d): To  deal  with  the  problem  of  locust  swarms,  Government  of  India  strategized  its preparedness,  strengthened  its  capacity  and  enhanced  its  survey  and  control  capabilities. Awareness  campaigns  were  organized  in  districts,  blocks  and  villages;  advisories  and standard  operating  procedures  were  circulated  and  training  programs/mock  drills  were conducted. Control rooms were established at Locust circle offices and districts. WhatsApp groups  were  created  in  all  affected  States  for  coordination  and  real  time  exchange  of information. Regular meetings and video conferences were organized with States for better coordination. When Covid-19 lockdown period, awareness literature & videos were shared through virtual medium to orient both functionaries and farmers.

To further  strengthen  ground  control  capabilities,  70  new  equipment  were  procured from United Kingdom to increase the number of ground control teams to 104. Additionally, 55 vehicles were procured to strengthen the control potential. More  than 200  Central Government personnel were deputed in the control operations.

To  strengthen  aerial  control  capabilities,  Drones,  a  Bell  Helicopter  and  customized Mi17 Helicopter of Indian Air Force were deployed for Locust Control. A new dimension was added  by  using  of  drones  in  locust  control  for  the  first  time  in  the  world  after  finalizing protocols in coordination with Ministry of Civil Aviation.

The Department coordinated with Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Indian Embassies  in  Kenya  and  Ethiopia  for  concurrent  feedback  and  regularly  participated  in meetings conducted by FAO Commission for controlling the desert locust in South West Asia for exchange of information on actual status, movement and control of locust in the region.

Financial  assistance  was  extended  to  State  Governments  through  various  Central Schemes for hiring and purchase of equipments, vehicles and pesticides. Under Sub-mission on  Agricultural  Mechanization  Rs.  2.86  crores  were  released  to  Rajasthan  and  Rs.  2.20 crores  to  Uttar  Pradesh.  Under  the  Rashtriya  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana,  Rs.  14  crores  were provided to Rajasthan and Rs. 1.80 crores to Gujarat.

Ministry of Home Affairs has included admissibility of hiring of vehicles, tractors with spray equipments for spraying of plant protection chemicals for pest control; hiring of water tankers; and purchase of plant protection chemicals for locust control under new norms of assistance under State Disaster  Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund  (NDRF).  State  Governments  deployed  large  number  of  field  functionaries,  tractor mounted sprayers and fire tender vehicles for locust control.

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