Locust Swarms Now Enter Maharashtra after Causing Crop Damage in MP and Rajasthan

In the eastern part of Maharashtra a swarm of desert locusts has entered. The district and agriculture department personnel have started chemical spraying on crops and vegetation to save them from the migratory pests, said the officials.

As per primary reports, in the last couple of days, 4-5 villages in the Vidarbha region have come under attack from the locusts which are known for feasting on all kinds of plants as well as the standing crops.

Ravindra Bhosale, Joint director of agriculture told PTI news agency, "The swarm of desert locusts entered the state from Amravati district. It then went to Wardha which is now in Nagpurs Katol tehsil."

He added, a team from the regional centre of the Central Integrated Pest Management Centre has began spraying chemicals on crops & plants near the Jalalkheda bypass where the insects were found. Central agencies in this field had alerted us about the locust attack and required information has been given to villagers also," said Mr Bhosale.

He said that a swarm does not travel in the night. The migratory pests travel during the day time and fly according to the wind direction. He even mentioned that locusts are very dangerous to all kinds of vegetation. They feed on green leaves & are known for devouring crops spread across on acres of land.

I am personally monitoring the chemical spraying as we would be using some 1,200 litres of water with insecticides, Mr Bhosale said. Earlier also locust attacks were located from neighbouring Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

As per reports from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), an agency of the United Nations, the desert locust is known as the most dangerous of all migratory pest species in the world. It not only threatens people livelihoods & food security but also the environment and economic development.