Locusts Cross Rajasthan To Invade Crops In Maharashtra; Farmers In Delhi & UP Also Alerted

Locusts, known for feasting on all sorts of plants and standing crops, entered India through Rajasthan on April 11. Locust attacks this year have come earlier than usual. On Monday, it entered some residential areas of the Jaipur city.

Swarms of locust in the walled city of Jaipur, Rajasthan. (Image: PTI)

New Delhi: The locust attack from Pakistan has been troubling the Indian States of Rajasthan, Haryana, and have invaded Maharashtra now. The migratory pests also expanded attacks in other Northern states and have put Delhi and Uttar Pradesh on alert. Locusts, known for feasting on all sorts of plants and standing crops, entered India through Rajasthan on April 11. Locust attacks this year have come earlier than usual. On Monday, it entered some residential areas of the Jaipur city. After Rajasthan, four other states - Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, and Punjab have reported to be worst-hit with migrating pests, which have expanded to Vidharba in Maharashtra. According to the reports, the district and agriculture department personnel in Maharashtra have initiated chemical spraying on crops and vegetation to save them from the migratory pests. Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Budh Nagar, which is already fighting a tough battle with coronavirus, has also come under the attack by humongous swarms of desert locust. The farmers are tensed about it and are trying everything to deal with the problem. The Noida administration is on its toes and is making all the efforts to help the farmers. The administration is trying to spread awareness about the locust attack too. The city of Jhansi and Mathura district in Uttar Pradesh have also been alerted to be prepared with chemicals for prevention of crop destruction. The local villagers have been asked to make noise by beating ‘thalis’ and bursting crackers to drive away a locust swarm. Amidst the crisis of Coronavirus, this situation can lead to a locust plague, followed by an economic problem for the farmers. However, the situation has been intimated to the states and preventive measures are being taken.