Lok Sabha Question No. 3379 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-21
Subject: Locust Attack
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Raja Amareshwara Naik

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3379

TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 ST  MARCH, 2023

## LOCUST ATTACK

## 3379. SHRI RAJA AMARESHWAR NAIK

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

- (a) Whether  there  are  widespread  locust  attacks  in  different  parts  of  the  country  causing widespread     crop losses to farmers and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) Whether the Government has assessed  the damage caused by locust to farmers including the details of total hectares of crops damaged and if so, the details thereof, crop and state-wise
- (c) Whether any talks have been held with neighbouring countries from where the locusts have originated, if so, the details thereof and its outcome;
- (d) Whether the Government is planning to give any compensation or relief for farmers who have been affected by locust attacks and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) Whether farmers in locust affected areas in the country have been educated or trained about locust attacks, if so, the details thereof along with preventive measures/action plan taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष और कसान कयाण मंी

## (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) & (b) Locust attack is not a regular phenomenon and large scale incursions occur in cycles of heightened activity for a couple of years followed by long periods of inactivity.  Locust attacks were reported in India during 2019-20 and 2020-21 when locusts migrated to India after a gap of 26 years. During 2019-20, locust incursion was reported in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhatisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. The situation is now calm in India and its neighboring countries like Iran and Pakistan (SWAC region). The details of area affected and the crop damage in affected States are given in Annexure-I.

(c) India being the member of FAO-SWAC (Commission for Controlling Desert Locust in South West Asian Countries) and DLCC (Desert Locust Control Committee), regularly attends/participates in SWAC and DLCC sessions/meetings. SWAC & DLCC provides technical, material support, global guidance, situation of Desert Locust (DL) and early warning on potential threat to the member countries. Details of the SWAC meeting and Indo-Pak Border Meetings held since 2019 till February, 2023 are given in Annexure-II.

(d) Agriculture being the State subject, the state governments are giving compensation as per their norms.  For the year 2019-20, the State Government of Rajasthan has reported that, an amount of Rs. 13285.59 lakh were disbursed to 87,626 beneficiaries through State Disaster Response Fund as  Agriculture  Input  Subsidy  and  an  amount  of  Rs.  56520.00  lakh  were  disbursed  to  204215 beneficiaries  through  Pradhan  Mantri  Fasal  Bima  Yojana  during  2019-20.  Further  financial assistance of Rs.6865 lakh is provided to Rajasthan under National Disaster Relief Fund(NDRF). State Government of Gujarat has reported that, during 2019-20, an amount of Rs. 2033.94 lakh was provided to affected farmers. Uttar Pradesh Government has reported that an amount of Rs. 3.25 lakh was provided to 112 affected farmers during 2020-21.

(e) The Government of India has established 10 Locust Circle Offices(LCOs), 8 in Rajasthan & 2 in  Gujarat,  one  Locust  Warning  Organisation  (LWO)  at  Jodhpur,  and  one  Field  Station  for Investigations  on  Locust  (FSIL)  at  Bikaner  to  deal  with  the  problem  of  locust  swarms  and following  steps  are  also  taken  by  the  Directorate  of  Plant  Protection  Quarantine  and  Storage, Faridabad:  .

-  308 awareness programmes were organized during 2019-20 and 2020-21 desert locust attack in  virtual  mode  due  to  COVID-19  pandemic.  Under  Azadi-ka-Amrit  Mahotsav,  22  kisan ghostis were conducted at district, block and village levels across the Scheduled Desert Area of Rajasthan & Gujarat during 2022-23.  Organized Two (02) National training workshops during  2021-22  under  FAO  assistance.  The  agriculture extension  officials  of  locust  prone states  i.e.  Gujarat,  Rajasthan,  Haryana  &  Punjab  including  officials  of  LCOs  attended  the workshops  on  locust  awareness  &  control.  A  contingency  plan  has  been  prepared,  is implemented in case of any emergency due to DL upsurge/internal breeding.
-  LWO/DPPQS  releases  fortnightly  Desert  Locust  Situation  Bulletin  which  is  shared  with SWAC, and State Administration and Agriculture Department of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana and Punjab etc. the bulletin carries forecast of desert locust for upcoming 15 days and helps in forewarning and preparations in any DL invasions/internal breeding.
-  As part of preparedness plan, a week in the months of April-May is specifically dedicated for locust awareness and preparedness in the States of Rajasthan & Gujarat every year, prior to the onset of active locust season.

## Annexure-I

## The details of area affected and the State-wise crop damage due to Locust attack during 2019-20 & 2020-21

| 2019-2020      | 2019-2020            |
|----------------|----------------------|
| States         | Affected Area in ha. |
| Rajasthan      | 1,57,279             |
| Gujarat        | 22,067               |
| Punjab         | Nil                  |
| 2020-21        | 2020-21              |
| Rajasthan      | 489.72               |
| Gujarat        | No crop loss         |
| Punjab         | No crop loss         |
| Chhattisgarh   | No crop loss         |
| Bihar          | No crop loss         |
| Uttarakhand    | Minimal loss         |
| Haryana        | Minimal loss         |
| Maharashtra    | 805.8                |
| Uttar Pradesh  | 28.86                |
| Madhya Pradesh | 4400                 |

## Annexure-II

| SWAC Meetings                                          |                                                    |                 |
|--------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|-----------------|
| Year                                                   | SWACcountries (India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran) | No. of meetings |
| 2019 (May- December) During Desert Locust Upsurge      | Virtual meeting fortnightly                        | 16              |
| 2020 (Jan- August) During Desert Locust Upsurge        | Virtual meeting fortnightly                        | 16              |
| 2020 (September-December) During Desert Locust Upsurge | Virtual meeting monthly                            | 4               |
| 2021 Jan-Dec No locust upsurge                         | Virtual meeting monthly                            | 12              |
| 2022 Jan-Oct No locust upsurge                         | Virtual meeting monthly                            | 10              |
| 2023 Feb                                               | Virtual meeting w.r.t DLCC SESSION                 | 2               |
| Indo-Pak Border meeting                                |                                                    |                 |

| SWAC Meetings                                          |                                        |                                                                                              |
|--------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2019 (May- December) During Desert Locust Upsurge      | Fortnight virtual meeting with SWAC    | 16                                                                                           |
| 2020 (Jan- August) During Desert Locust Upsurge        | Fortnight virtual meeting with SWAC    | 16                                                                                           |
| 2020 (September-December) During Desert Locust Upsurge | monthly virtual meeting with SWAC      | 4                                                                                            |
| 2021 Jan-Dec No locust upsurge                         | monthly virtual meeting with SWAC      | 12                                                                                           |
| 2022 Jan-Oct No locust upsurge                         | monthly vitual meeting with SWAC       | 10                                                                                           |
| 2022 November                                          | Physical India-Pakistan border meeting | 1 (Physical meeting started again after Covid since virtual SWAC meetings were discontinued) |
| 2023 Feb                                               | Virtual meeting w.r.t DLCC SESSION     | 2                                                                                            |

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