Locust attack in Haryana: swarms back, efforts stepped up to control crop damage

The Haryana government has stepped up efforts to control locust swarms and crop damages in view of warning about potential intense attacks in several districts after July 22. 

Additional Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal said, here on Thursday, arrangements had been made to stock additional quantities of pesticides. The locust swarms in the region had become resistant to the commonly used pesticide Chorpyriphos, he added. 

To prevent homogeneity in use of pesticides during repeated spraying, arrangements are being made to stock 20,000 litres of Lamda Cyhalothrin in addition to existing stocks of pesticide. 

Three drones were being purchased for aerial spray of pesticide, he said.

According to Kaushal, 66 fire-tenders are available along with 3,540 tractor-mounted spray pumps. The state would also acquire fogging machines being bought by the Centre from the UK for use on trees.

The Locust Warning Organisation has warned of high-intensity attacks in Nuh, Rewari, Mahendragarh, Bhiwani and Charkhi Dadri districts after July 22 as large-scale locust breeding was observed in the Jhunjhunu district in Rajasthan.

These attacks are likely to be far more severe than the previous ones over 13,038 acres in Jhajjar, Charkhi Dadri, Palwal, Sirsa, Nuh, Rewari, Bhiwani and Narnaul districts between June 26 and July 16.

Kaushal said farmers in Jhajjar, Palwal and Nuh didn’t report any losses due to locust swarms.

While farmers in most districts suffered 5-10 per cent losses, quick action ensured that those in the worst-hit Rewari and Sirsa districts didn’t suffer losses of more than 30 per cent.