Locust invasion: Six Bihar districts put on high alert
State’s agri minister urges Uttar Pradesh counterpart to take preventive measures
BHAGALPUR: Taking note of the possibility of locust invasion in the state, six districts bordering Uttar Pradesh have been put on high alert by the state agriculture department.
While all other districts of state have been also alerted about the possibility, the bordering districts including Gopalganj, Chapra, Buxar, Kaimur, West Chamaparan and Siwan have been put on high alert after swarm of locusts spotted in western Uttar Pradesh.
Prem Kumar, agriculture minister, said that the swarm of locusts was moving eastward from western Uttar Pradesh and could enter Bihar.
He spoke to his counterpart in neighbouring state to know steps that are being taken to control locust attack on crop. He has requested the agriculture minister of Uttar Pradesh for taking measures that could be affective in restricting movement of locust swarm.
The agriculture minister said all concerned departmental authorities have been asked to ensure measures like making loud noises by beating drums and by other means that could help drive away locusts besides spraying pesticides that could prevent them from damaging crop and vegetables.
“I am in touch with the agriculture scientists to seek their views on how effectively the threat could be handled,” Kumar said. The possibility of locust threat figured in discussion held on Thursday through video conferencing between the agriculture minister and scientists, besides authorities of the agriculture universities. The Bihar Agriculture University (BAU), Sabour authorities provided details of advisory released for handling the situation. The BAU advisory was prepared in meeting of university scientists held under chairmanship of Ajoy Kumar Singh, VC, BAU. The meeting also assessed the extent of damage locusts could cause to crop and vegetables if the invasion happens.
Taking into consideration previous incidences of locust attack in country, the participants observed that there is less possibility the swarm of locust would be large in numbers when it moves eastward from western Uttar Pradesh because of low reproduction capacity.
Based on previous observations, it was referred in the meeting that en route to western Uttar Pradeh from Morocco, reproductive capacity of locusts remains high due to congenial weather conditions. However, their capacity to reproduce registers drop as they move further towards east from western Uttar Pradesh due to uncongenial weather conditions.
The scientists in certain cases felt with less standing crop in fields at this time of year chances of major crop damage due to locust attack is unlikely. In case of major locust attack, spraying specified insecticides by drones has been suggested in advisory.
RK Sohane, director (extension), BAU said the advisory has been forwarded to all Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK’s) of the university.
The KVKs have been directed to make farmers aware about the threat and also inform them about measures suggested in advisory.