Lok Sabha Question No. 1267 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-09
Subject: Controlling Locust Swarm
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Riti Pathak

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1267

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 9 TH  FEBRUARY, 2021

## CONTROLLING LOCUST SWARM

1267.  SHRIMATI RITI PATHAK:

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

- (a) whether any step has been taken by the Government for controlling locust swarm;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the  hectares  of  land  brought  under  control  by  running  campaign  against  locust swarm;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government has announced for a increased minimum support price for ripe/peeled coconut and if so, the details thereof;
- (f) whether the Government is formulating scheme to increase income of honey farmers and if so, the details thereof; and
- (g) whether sowing area has increased in Rabi season this year in comparison to last year and if so, the details thereof, State-wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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

- (a) & (b) : The  Government of  India  has  established  Locust  Warning  Organization  and ten  Locust  Circle  Offices  which  primarily  monitor,  survey  and  control  Desert  Locust  in Scheduled Desert Area of Rajasthan and Gujarat in coordination with the State Governments.

Government of India took various steps for controlling locust swarms during 2020-21 and worked on strengthening of ground & aerial spray capabilities, human resources and also provided financial assistance to States. Major steps taken were-

-  To strengthen locust control capabilities, additional 60 equipments were procured and capacity of control teams with spray equipment mounted vehicles were increased to 104, which were utilized for ground control operations.
-  55 vehicles were procured to strengthen ground control potential.
-  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 and Indian Air Force, Mi17 helicopter with customized  aerial  spray  equipment  were  also  used  for  locust  control  by  aerial spraying.
-  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.
-  Regular surveys were undertaken by Locust offices and State Government authorities and control operations carried out against different stages of locusts.
-  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 States 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.

(c) & (d ): During  2010-21,  operations  were  undertaken  in  coordination  with State Governments for locust control. Control operations were carried out in an area of 2,87,986 hectares by Locust Circle Offices and 2,83,268 hectares by State Governments.

(e): The  Minimum  Support  Price  for  Fair  Average  Quality  (FAQ)  copra  has  been increased to Rs.10,335/- per quintal for 2021 season from Rs.9,960/- per quintal in 2020, with an increase of Rs.375/ - per quintal. Further, the MSP for ball copra has been increased to Rs.10,600/- per quintal for 2021 season from Rs.10,300/- per quintal, with an increase of Rs.300/ - per quintal

(f) : Government  of  India is implementing Mission for Integrated Development  of Horticulture  (MIDH) for  overall  development  of  horticulture  in  the  country.  Under  MIDH,  a component  of  'Pollination  support  through  Beekeeping'  has  been  included  to  promote beekeeping  in  the  Country.  Under  this  component  financial  assistance  is  provided  for various capacity building programmes.

Beekeeping is also being promoted under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY). Keeping  in  view  the  importance  of  Apiculture/  Beekeeping,  Government  of  India  also approved  a  new  Central  Sector  Scheme  entitled  'National  Beekeeping  &  Honey  Mission (NBHM) for 2 years (2018-19 & 2019-20) for overall promotion and development of scientific beekeeping  in  mission  mode  to  achieve  the  goal  of  'Sweet  Revolution'  in  the  country. NBHM has  again  been  approved  by  Government  of  India  for  its  continuation  for  further period  of  3  years  (2020-21  to  2022-23)  and  Rs.500  crores  allotted  under  Aatma  Nirbhar Bharat Announcement. NIBM will be implemented through National Bee Board.

Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises is implementing a cluster development scheme since 2014-15 namely Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI), under which honey related clusters are considered. The scheme is implemented through Khadi & Village Industries Commission.

(g): The  Total  area  sown  in  current  Rabi  season  (as  on  29.01.2021)  is  684.59  lakh hectare while it was 665.59 lakh hectare last year on the same date. Thus, an increase of 19.01 lakh hectare area sowing is achieved for the current year. State-wise details may be seen as Annexure-I.

Annexure-I

## Area Coverage of Rabi Crops as on 29.01.2021 (Area in Lakh ha)

| S.No   |                         |                   | Area Sown              | Area Sown           | Difference of 2020-21 over   | % Increase(+)/ decrease(-)   |
|--------|-------------------------|-------------------|------------------------|---------------------|------------------------------|------------------------------|
| S.No   | State                   | Normal Area (DES) | 2020-21 (Current year) | 2019-20 (Last year) | Last year 2019-20            | over 2019-20                 |
| 1      | Andhra Pradesh          | 21.01             | 18.39                  | 19.55               | -1.15                        | -5.91                        |
| 2      | Arunachal Pradesh       | 0.43              | 0.44                   | 0.45                | -0.01                        | -1.77                        |
| 3      | Assam                   | 8.60              | 6.24                   | 5.59                | 0.64                         | 11.49                        |
| 4      | Bihar                   | 31.43             | 35.11                  | 34.40               | 0.71                         | 2.06                         |
| 5      | Chhattisgarh            | 8.05              | 14.17                  | 13.86               | 0.32                         | 2.30                         |
| 6      | Gujarat                 | 15.81             | 25.75                  | 21.48               | 4.27                         | 19.88                        |
| 7      | Haryana                 | 31.68             | 31.94                  | 31.28               | 0.66                         | 2.11                         |
| 8      | Himachal Pradesh        | 3.74              | 3.82                   | 3.72                | 0.11                         | 2.90                         |
| 9      | Jharkhand               | 7.80              | 11.31                  | 9.00                | 2.31                         | 25.67                        |
| 10     | J&K                     | 3.54              | 2.91                   | 2.64                | 0.27                         | 10.32                        |
| 11     | Karnataka               | 30.26             | 25.94                  | 26.82               | -0.88                        | -3.28                        |
| 12     | Kerala                  | 0.47              | 0.78                   | 0.67                | 0.11                         | 16.42                        |
| 13     | Madhya Pradesh          | 109.65            | 131.01                 | 124.25              | 6.76                         | 5.44                         |
| 14     | Maharashtra             | 54.19             | 57.25                  | 54.59               | 2.67                         | 4.89                         |
| 15     | Odisha                  | 6.72              | 13.70                  | 13.87               | -0.17                        | -1.24                        |
| 16     | Punjab                  | 35.83             | 35.70                  | 35.77               | -0.07                        | -0.20                        |
| 17     | Rajasthan               | 71.61             | 83.61                  | 83.67               | -0.05                        | -0.06                        |
| 18     | Tamil Nadu              | 12.51             | 19.46                  | 20.04               | -0.58                        | -2.91                        |
| 19     | Telangana               | 10.96             | 15.03                  | 11.75               | 3.28                         | 27.96                        |
| 20     | Uttar Pradesh           | 119.72            | 130.64                 | 130.03              | 0.61                         | 0.47                         |
| 21     | Uttarakhand             | 3.93              | 3.90                   | 4.12                | -0.22                        | -5.32                        |
| 22     | West Bengal             | 15.15             | 13.33                  | 12.72               | 0.60                         | 4.73                         |
|        | Total (22 major states) | 603.08            | 680.45                 | 660.27              | 20.18                        | 3.06                         |
|        | All-India               | 620.27            | 684.59                 | 665.59              | 19.01                        | 2.86                         |

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