Lok Sabha Question No. 462 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-25
Subject: Infestation by Fall Army Worm
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Sudhakar Tukaram Shrangre

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 462

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 25 TH  JUNE, 2019

## INFESTATION BY FALL ARMY WORM

462.     SHRI SUDHAKAR TUKARAM SHRANGARE:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण

मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  note  of  'fall  army  worm/pest'  infestation  on various varieties of crops in the country;
- (b) if so, the details of crop damages due to fall army worm during the last three years, State-wise; and
- (c) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  find  out  technological  solution  and management practices to control the spread of the invasive agricultural pest?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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

- (a) & (b): Yes  Sir,  the  Department  has  taken  note  of  Fall  Army  Worm  (FAW) infestation  in  the  country.  The  infestation  has  been  found  primarily  on  maize  and  to  a small extent on Ragi and Sorghum.  As reported by the States, the details of the area affected  due  to  Fall  Army  Worm  (FAW)  in  maize  during  the  last  three  years  is  at Annexure I.
- (c): The Department has taken following steps to control the spread of FAW:
- (i). The Indian Council of Agriculture Research has prepared a detailed Package of Practices (POP) against FAW in Maize crop. The POP, inter-alia, contains mechanical, cultural, biological and chemical measures to control FAW. The POP has been circulated to  all  the  States  for  its  implementation.  Timely  advisories  are  being  issued  regularly  to State Departments of Agriculture to adopt preventive measures.

Contd…..2/-

(ii). A High Power Committee (HPC) has been constituted, headed by the Secretary (DAC&FW) and Secretary (DARE) to review the status and to recommend appropriate strategies.  Based  on  the  recommendations  of  the  HPC,  various  Sub-Committees  have also  been  constituted  in  the  State  of  Karnataka,  Maharashtra,  Madhya  Pradesh,  Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar and Rajasthan States, which are headed by the Director / Commissioner of Agriculture / Principal Secretary of the respective State.

(iii). Regular  surveys,  surveillance  and  monitoring  were  conducted  by  the  Central Integrated Pest Management Centres (CIPMCs) in collaboration with the State Department of Agriculture, SAUs and ICAR etc. Further, awareness programmes for the farmers were organized to advise them to adopt cultural and farm practices.

(iv). Certain Bio-control Agents have found effective against FAW. Mass production of these bio-control agents has been promoted.

Annexure-I Details of area affected due to Fall Army Worm during the Last three years

| Sl. No.   | State             | Details of area affected due to Fall Army Worm during Last three years (area in ha.)   | Details of area affected due to Fall Army Worm during Last three years (area in ha.)   | Details of area affected due to Fall Army Worm during Last three years (area in ha.)   |
|-----------|-------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Sl. No.   | State             | 2017-18                                                                                | 2018-19                                                                                | 2019-20 (up to may, 2019)                                                              |
| 1.        | Chhattisgarh      | No incidence of Fall Army Worm was reported in the country during 2016-17 and 2017-18  | 1539                                                                                   | 1007.74                                                                                |
| 2.        | Himachal Pradesh  |                                                                                        | -                                                                                      | -                                                                                      |
| 3.        | Andhra Pradesh    |                                                                                        | 2538                                                                                   | -                                                                                      |
| 4.        | Madhya Pradesh    |                                                                                        | -                                                                                      | 110                                                                                    |
| 5.        | Rajasthan         |                                                                                        | -                                                                                      | -                                                                                      |
| 6.        | Gujarat           |                                                                                        | 70                                                                                     | 14                                                                                     |
| 7.        | Karnataka         |                                                                                        | 211300                                                                                 | -                                                                                      |
| 8.        | Uttar Pradesh     |                                                                                        | -                                                                                      | 2                                                                                      |
| 9.        | Sikkim            |                                                                                        | -                                                                                      | 376                                                                                    |
| 10.       | Mizoram           |                                                                                        | -                                                                                      | 1877.29                                                                                |
| 11.       | Manipur           |                                                                                        | -                                                                                      | 4341.64                                                                                |
| 12.       | Nagaland          |                                                                                        | -                                                                                      | 4553.29                                                                                |
| 13.       | Meghalaya         |                                                                                        | -                                                                                      | 40                                                                                     |
| 14.       | Tripura           |                                                                                        | -                                                                                      | 7.08                                                                                   |
| 15.       | Assam             |                                                                                        | -                                                                                      | 27.65                                                                                  |
| 16.       | Telangana         |                                                                                        | 24288.40                                                                               | -                                                                                      |
| 17.       | West Bengal       |                                                                                        | -                                                                                      | 485                                                                                    |
| 18.       | Arunachal Pradesh |                                                                                        | -                                                                                      | 250                                                                                    |
| 19.       | Kerala            |                                                                                        | -                                                                                      | -                                                                                      |
| 20.       | Tamil Nadu        |                                                                                        | 315                                                                                    | -                                                                                      |
| 21.       | Odisha            |                                                                                        | 60                                                                                     | -                                                                                      |
| 22.       | Uttarakhand       |                                                                                        | -                                                                                      | -                                                                                      |
| 23.       | Punjab            |                                                                                        | -                                                                                      | -                                                                                      |
| 24.       | Bihar             |                                                                                        | -                                                                                      | -                                                                                      |
| 25.       | Jharkhand         |                                                                                        | -                                                                                      | 7.08                                                                                   |
| 26.       | Maharashtra       |                                                                                        | 5144                                                                                   | -                                                                                      |
| 27.       | Jammu & Kashmir   |                                                                                        | -                                                                                      | -                                                                                      |
| 28.       | Haryana           |                                                                                        | -                                                                                      | -                                                                                      |
| 29.       | Goa               |                                                                                        | -                                                                                      | -                                                                                      |

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