Lok Sabha Question No. 1491 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-20
Subject: Invasion of Desert Locusts
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Parvatagouda Chandanagouda Gaddigoudar

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1491

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 20 TH  SEPTEMBER, 2020

## INVASION OF DESERT LOCUSTS

## 1491.  SHRI P.C. GADDIGOUDAR:

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

- (a): whether the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the UN has issued a warning about the likelihood twin invasion of desert locusts in the country during the year;
- (b): if so, the details thereof;
- (c): whether the invasion of locusts would result in extensive damage of standing crops;
- (d): if so, the details thereof; and
- (e): the steps taken by the Government to assist the State Governments and the farming community to meet the upcoming challenges and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) & (b): Food  and  Agriculture  Organization's  Desert  Locust  Bulletin  No.  499  (General situation  during  April  2020  and  forecast  until  mid-June  2020)  issued  on  04 th May,  2020, mentioned that ' a few swarms likely to reach Indo-Pakistan border area in early May followed by several waves of swarms later in May and June '.  This  year,  however,  the  incursions  of locust hoppers have been reported from 11 th April,  2020 and thereafter from 30 th April, 2020 swarms of pink  immature  adults  made  incursions  and  control  operations  were  immediately started from 11 th April, 2020 itself. It is pertinent to note that the FAO forecasting methods are largely  based  on  the  reports  of  national  locust  teams,  satellite  imagery  and  meteorological data.

- (c) & (d): State Governments of Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Punjab and Bihar have reported no crop  losses  in  their  States.  However,  State  Governments  of  Haryana,  Madhya  Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand have reported crop damage of less than 33% in 6520 ha, 4400 ha, 806 ha, 488 ha and 267 ha respectively due to locust attack this year.

Initially  during  May-June,  2020,  Government  of  Rajasthan  reported  crop  damage  of 33%  and  more  due  to  locust  attack  in  2235  hectare  area  in  Bikaner,  140  hectare  in Hanumangarh and 1027 hectare area in Sri Ganganagar; but now, as per revised report, it has been stated that earlier submitted data was related to initial stage of crop sown in Kharif season and this area of crop loss has been re-sown by farmers.

(e): Government  of  India  is  working  on  the  strengthening  of  ground  &  aerial  spray capabilities, Human Resources, strengthening to States and farming community to meet the upcoming challenges. The major steps are-

-  To strengthen locust control capabilities, additional 60 equipments were procured and presently 104 control teams with spray equipment mounted vehicles were utilized for ground control.
-  More  than  200  Central  Government  personnel  were  deployed  in  locust  control operations.
-  Drones  were  used  for  locust  control  for  the  first  time  in  the  world  after  finalizing protocols  and  one  Bell  206-B3  helicopter  was  also  used  for  locust  control  by  aerial spraying.
-  The  Indian  Air  Force,  Mi17  helicopter  with  customized  aerial  spray  equipment  was used for aerial spray.
-  Government of India has issued a supply order of 5 CDA atomizer kits for aerial spray capabilities from a UK Based Company M/s Micron. These kits are to be delivered in October 2020 and will be fitted in Indian Air Force helicopters (as agreed by them) and will be used for aerial operations for control of desert locusts.
-  Review meetings and VCs were organized with State Governments and locust control preparedness  was  strategized,  capacity  building  and  awareness  campaigns  were organized  in  districts,  blocks  and  villages,  advisories  were  issued,  training  programs and mock drills were conducted. When Covid-19 struck, awareness literature & videos were shared through virtual medium to orient both functionaries and farmers. Control rooms  were  established  in  Locust  offices  and  District  Headquarters.  and  WhatsApp groups were created in all affected States for real time exchange of information and coordination.
-  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).  This  has  also  facilitated  the  State  in  their  locust control operations.
-  Under Sub-mission on Agriculture Mechanization assistance of Rs. 2.86 crores for 800 tractors  mounted  spray  equipments  was  sanctioned  to  Rajasthan.  Under  RKVY sanction of Rs. 14 crores for hiring of vehicles, tractors and for purchase of pesticides has also been issued.
-  Gujarat  States  has  been  sanctioned  Rs.  1.80  crores  under  RKVY  for  capacity enhancement for locust control.
-  Under  Sub-mission  on  Agriculture  Mechanization  assistance  of  2.20  crore  has  been sanctioned for purchase of tractors and spray equipments for Uttar Pradesh.

*******