There has been unusually widespread sightings of locust swarms in the urban areas of Rajasthan, as well as regions in Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha in Maharashtra.
About Desert Locusts
The desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) is essentially a short-horned grasshopper. In normal circumstances, these insects are harmless. However, when their population multiplies rapidly, they undergo a behavioural shift and the now gregarious locusts form massive swarms. These swarms can travel up to 150 km per day, ravaging every bit of greenery in their path. These insects can feed on a vast variety of crops. If not managed effectively, these locust swarms pose a serious threat to a country’s food security.
Early Arrival of Locust Swarms
Swarms were first spotted along the India-Pakistan border on April 11, which is several months ahead of their typical arrival time. In normal conditions, locusts are sighted in India during July to October along the Pakistan border. The reason for this untimely arrival can be traced back to cyclonic storms Mekunu and Luban that hit Oman and Yemen respectively in 2018. These cyclones transformed large tracts of desert into lakes, providing an ideal condition for locust breeding, which continued through 2019.
Locusts and Urban Areas
Currently, locusts are being observed in urban regions not traditionally associated with their presence. For instance, cities like Jaipur, Gwalior, Morena and Sheopur in MP and lately sporadic swarms in Maharashtra’s Amravati, Nagpur and Wardha have reported such sightings. Since there are no crops in the open fields, locusts attracted by the green cover have moved to different states in search of food, aided by high-speed winds.
Impact on Crops
At present, the chance of crop damage is low considering that farmers have already harvested their rabi crop. While orange growers in Maharashtra have raised concerns, scientists at the Agriculture Ministry’s Locust Warning Organization (LWO) reassure that the swarm in Maharashtra should be easy to control. The real challenge will arise once the current swarms breed. An adult female locust lays between 80-90 eggs thrice during her three-month life cycle. If not controlled, a swarm can expand exponentially to 40-80 million locusts per square kilometre.
Control Measures
Controlling these swarms involves spraying insecticide on their night resting places like trees. As of now, the LWO has undertaken spraying over 21,675 hectares in Rajasthan. India has ordered 60 specialized insecticide sprayers from the UK, in addition to the 50 such machines it currently possesses. Drones are also being deployed to spray the insecticide on resting places.
The Way Forward
As India grapples with Covid-19, it is crucial to ensure that the locust menace does not jeopardize the nation’s food security. There isn’t a quick-fix solution to this problem. Apart from chemicals, pesticides and drones, it is vital to address the underlying issue of global warming and to invest in enhancing climate resilience and adaptation techniques. This, however, is an expensive and complex process necessitating international cooperation and coordination.
