How Farmers in Gujarat are Using Steal Plates and Drums to Beat Locust Attack?

In the absence of a proper scientific method to deal with the insects, the farmers of Gujarat are using ‘Homemade Solution’ to combat with the massive locust attack in the state- not seen in decades. Moreover, it’s the greatest tragedy of Gujarat farmers which bound them to leave thousands of hectares of land at a risk. In absence of an effective scientific method to combat the insects coupled with a delayed response from the state administration has put thousands of hectares of land at a risk, say reports.

In response to the tragedy, Chief Minister of Gujarat Vijay Rupani assures compensation to farmers affected by the attack. Desperate times call for desperate measures, the government is totally failed to find a proper solution to stop this tragedy.

Moreover, some ruling party and Opposition leaders joined farmers in shooing away the locusts by beating the steel plates with sticks after much uproar in the media and embarrassment on the social media over the last few days.

As per reports, state BJP chief Jitu Vaghani and Member of Parliament Parbat Patel among other senior ruling party members were seen on the fields on Thursday, while Congress legislator Ashwin Kotwal used drums to combat the attack.

On the other hand, farmers and children are provided ‘training’ and ‘knowledge’ by school principals and teachers to tackle the situation to stop the menace.

On the other hand, the farmers have been applying household solutions to combat the swarms — some burnt tyres or dry straws, played drums, musical DJs, put large fans besides beating the steel plates. The government has estimated that about 5,000 hectares of farmland as affected, says reports.

While asking the government why there is a  lack of advanced technologies including large vehicles and choppers to sprinkle insecticide and contain the spread of locusts, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Parshottam Rupala stated that the pesticides (malathion) are highly toxic and there is a bigger health risk if choppers are used to combat the menace.

“We are planning to experiment with drone. And also rope-in private players (to combat the attack),” Rupala said on Thursday. Now 11 Central teams have been sent to help the State administration tackle the menace.

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, while assuring compensation to farmers, on Thursday said, “We have formed 27 teams, comprising Central and State government officials, to keep a watch on the movement of swarms and to spray pesticide. Till now we have sprayed pesticide over 1,815 hectares in Banaskantha.”