India intensifies locust control operations |
Already battling the Covid-19 outbreak in the country, India is facing another formidable challenge in the recent days, that of active swarms of immature locusts, many of which have now reached 15 districts of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. In a statement, the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers` Welfare said on Wednesday, “As of today, there are active swarms of immature locust in Barmer, Jodhpur, Nagaur, Bikaner, Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Sikar, Jaipur districts in Rajasthan and Satna, Gwalior, Seedhi, Rajgarh, Baitul, Devas, Agar Malwa district of Madhya Pradesh.” The statement said that “since 11th of April, locust hoppers and from 30th of April, the incursion of pink immature adults has been reported in bordering districts of Rajasthan and Punjab, which are being controlled.” The Department of Agriculture and Farmers` Welfare has stepped up locust control operations in Rajasthan, Punjab, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh. 21 districts in Rajasthan, 18 districts in Madhya Pradesh, 1 in Punjab and 2 districts in Gujarat have undertaken locust control till now. The Ministry said: “New swarms will migrate to the summer breeding areas along both sides of the Indo-Pakistan border as well as to Sudan and West Africa.
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