Lok Sabha Question No. 3821 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-17
Subject: Locust Attack in Gujarat
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Kirit Premjibhai Solanki

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3821

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 17 TH  MARCH, 2020

## LOCUST ATTACK IN GUJARAT

3821.   DR. (PROF.) KIRIT PREMJIBHAI SOLANKI:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  notice  of  widespread  locust  attacks  in  northern Gujarat;
- (b) if so, the details of the steps taken;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  planning  to  give  any  compensation  for  farmers  who  have been affected by locust attacks;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether farmers in locust infected areas of Gujarat have been educated about the locust attacks; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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

- (a): Desert  locust  attack  was  observed  in  Kutch,  Banaskantha  and  few  areas  of  Patan district of Northern Gujarat during 2019-20.
- (b): Locust Warning Organization, Jodhpur and 2 Locust Circle Offices situated in Gujarat conducted  awareness  campaigns,  trainings  and  mock  drills  for  State  Agriculture  &  Revenue Department  officials,  farmers  and  BSF  personnel.  Control  rooms  were  established  in  Locust Warning Organization and Locust Circle Offices; advisories were issued to State Governments. Advertisements  were  issued  through  newspapers  for  public  awareness  about  Locust  and sharing  control  room  numbers.  WhatsApp  groups  were  created  in  the  respective  districts  for exchange  of  information  and  coordination  of  control  efforts  with  district  officials.  Additional officials,  vehicles  and  equipments  were  deployed  to  strengthen  the  resources  for  survey  and control  operations.  The  FAO  suggested  pesticides  for  the  control  of  locusts  in  cropped  area were  circulated  to  Gujarat  State  Government.  State  Government  of  Gujarat  also  conducted awareness programmes and established control rooms at district level.
- (c) & (d): State  Government  of  Gujarat  has  done  primary  assessment  of  the  crop  losses due  to  locust  attack  and  total  estimated  affected  area  is  19,313  ha  during  2019-20.  Relief package has  been  announced  for crop  losses  of  33%  and  more  for  locust  affected  districts. Assistance  of  Rs.13,500/-  per  hectare  from  State  Disaster  Response  Fund  and  additional Rs.5000/-  per  hectare  from  state  budget  will  be  provided  for  maximum  upto  2  hectares.  to affected  farmers.  Total  provision  for  this  relief  package  is  Rs.32.76  crores.  The  payment  of compensation to the affected farmers is in progress.

(e) & (f): Locust  Warning  Organization,  Jodhpur  and  Locust  Circle  Offices  situated  in Gujarat conducted awareness campaigns for State Agriculture & Revenue Department officials, farmers and Border Security Force personnel.

State Government of Gujarat also reported that extension activities are carried out for the awareness of the farmers and total 41,323 numbers of farmers have been trained, 28 number of Press/Media note were published in local newspapers, 15250 numbers of text messages and 19000 numbers of voice messages in local language to farmers were sent, 4240 numbers of information  books  were  distributed to  farmers,  33  numbers  of  DVDs  related  to  locust documentary in local  language  were  distributed    and  2  numbers  of  Doordarshan  programme were conducted.

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