Excessive rains brought in locust swarms: Scientists
NEW DELHI: Locust swarms that entered Fazilka in Punjab on Monday after ravaging mustard, gram and wheat crops in the border districts of Rajasthan like Barmer, Bikaner and Jaisalmer were the result of excess rains in northwest India in November, December and January, scientists said. Locusts were seen in parts of Haryana bordering
Rajasthan, which has led to agricultural scientists issuing advisories, but no swarm has reached Haryana yet. “This year in November, December and January we had western disturbances which brought excess rainfall to the region. Locusts come from Iran and Iraq where if there is a wet spell there is vegetation in the desert. They breed in wet sandy soil. Meteorological factors may have intensified their attacks,” said Prabhjyot Kaur Sidhu, principal scientist (agri met) at Punjab Agricultural University.
January this year was India’s wettest in 15 years. “India received 28.1 mm of rainfall in January, which is 63% above normal for the month. If we look at the distribution of this rainfall, most of it is in the northern and north-eastern parts of the country. In comparison, states like Tamil Nadu that receive more rainfall in January are deficient,” said Dr Pulak Guhathakurta, head, climate application and user interface, IMD.
“In February, usually there are three WDS, but there will be two in the first week itself,” said RK Jenamani, senior scientist at IMD. “Unusual rains may be a factor. If they attack here (Haryana) we will have to spray Food and Agriculture Organisationrecommended insecticides. Another way to deal with them is to burn the vegetation where they are settled. But that would mean burning crop,” said Yogesh Kumar, head of entomology at Haryana Agricultural University. Meanwhile, farmers in Rajasthan are demanding that locust attacks be declared a “natural disaster.” “The state government is planning to compensate only for loss in 2 ha of cropland by paying ~27,000. It is nothing compared to the damage,” said Bhagirath Mann, Bharatiya Kisan Union representative in Bikaner.