High alert as locust swarms hit 3 states

JAIPUR/AGRA/NEWDELHI: Swarms of crop-munching desert locusts entered deeper into Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh over the weekend and are now close to the national capital, according to officials who said on Monday that they have put farmers on high alert and deployed insecticide spraying devices through drones, SUVs and tractors.

Locust invasions are common in parts of Rajasthan abutting Pakistan, but this is the first time they have reached Jaipur, a city 700km from the border, after charting a journey that experts believe began in their natural breeding ground in East Africa.

“There is a possibility that the locusts will move towards Delhi in the next few days if wind speeds and directions are favourable. As of today the wind speed moved them towards north,” said the Union agriculture ministry’s Locust Warning Organization’s deputy director KL Gurjar.

“Presently three groups are in action... first one was moving towards Jhansi based on wind direction. The second lot seems to be heading for Morena. The third in Jaipur region seems to be heading towards Gangapur city in Rajasthan,” said Ram Pravesh, the district plant protection officer in Agra.

Locusts can fly up to 150km in a day, say experts.