Govt Announces Relief to 11,000 Farmers after Massive Locust Attack

Following the worst locust attack in Gujarat, the state government has assessed the damages and announced relief assistance to about 11,000 farmers from 285 villages in the 15 talula across two districts. As per reports, the massive locust attack of December has affected about 25,000 hectares of land in two of the worst-hit North Gujarat districts of Banaskantha and Patan. Moreover, about 24,750 hectares are affected in Banaskantha, while the affected area in Patan is about 750 hectares.

“The government has asked the administration to release the relief funds quickly", said Gujarat Agriculture Minister R C Faldu on Tuesday.

The government also announced a relief assistance of Rs 13,500 to the affected farmers as per the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) norms and additional Rs 5000 from the State's Krishi Sahay Package. Total assistance works out to be Rs 18,500 per hectare per farmer with a ceiling of two hectares," said the Agriculture Minister.

The high-intensity attack by huge swarms of locusts occurred in mid of December which created hue and cry among the farmers and damaged about 25,000hectres land. The State government and Centre had launched a combat operation on war-footing and after about a week-long operation, they claim to have eliminated most of the locusts.

What’s the Current Status?

Although the administration has confirmed zero locusts in Banaskantha and other neighboring districts, still there are reports of fresh sightings of the insect in some parts of the Kutch district.

As per sources, the district’s Abdasa taluka has raised concerns about the presence of insects. Moreover, there are fresh sightings of locusts in the Kutch district.

"There is a small swarm of locust at a village in Abdasa taluka. But it will be controlled within a day as both the State and Central teams are taking combative measures. The state administration is tracking it continuously with sprays when the swarm settles," said an official statement.