Locust attack in R’sthan worries farmers in state

Aakanksha N Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 16

As swarms of locusts have descended in Rajasthan and attacked crops, farmers in Punjab are tensed that their crops would also be damaged if they reach the state.

Agriculture Department officials said today that the situation in that state was leading to rumours in Punjab, which were being spread through social media. Hence, the department had appealed to farmers that there was no need to worry as teams formed under 15 technical experts had been working in the state to monitor the situation.

The situation is so grave in Rajasthan that farmers were opting various ways such as beating drums to keep the locusts away from their farms.

The officials said videos and pictures being forwarded on social media sites are getting viral. They said even if the videos were from Rajasthan, the farmers here think that there might be a possibility that the attack has happened in the district too.

As per department officials, locusts attack can happen on any crop.

“A locust has a lifespan of 50-60 days. And the insect has three stages — egg, nymph and adult. They also fly in gregarious way and thus, destroy the vegetation,” an official said.

Sutantar Kumar Aeri, Director, Agriculture Department, said some mischievous elements were trying to spread rumours that the locust attack would happen here too and creating panic among the farmers.

“The department has properly managed everything and is ready to face any type of situation. We are connected with all agencies and there is a full arrangement of power sprayers and pesticides too,” Aeri said, adding that 65 teams of Central Government were working and the department was in contact with them.

The officials said it was the coldest time of the year and there would be no breeding of locusts now.