After swarms of locusts destroyed crops in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra, Telangana is on high alert.
Central Integrated Pest Management Centres (CIPMC,) on the 26th of May, informed about the locust attack to the top official of the Telangana Agriculture Department and State Government.
The Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU) officials are also informed about the threat of the locusts attack, which could lead to a huge loss of crops.
The Telangana Government directed agriculture department officials to be on alert, as this monsoon, the State adopted a new agriculture policy and set to produce tonnes of paddy.
According to sources, locusts already reached around Nagpur and Amravati of Maharashtra highway, which share borders with Telangana as well.
Jayashankar Bhupalapally, the District Agricultural Officers of seven northern Telangana districts – Adilabad, Nirmal, Komurambhim- Asifabad and Mancherial, Nizamabad, Kamareddy and Jayshankar Bhupalapally would head the team to be preapred for the attack and save the crops this monsoon.
Mohan Reddy, the Deputy Director Agriculture (DDA) of Plant Protection said, “As per our information, in some villages in Amravati of Maharashtra, officials are trying to control them from damaging the crops. However the swarms may move in the direction of the wind, which is towards Chhattisgarh. While on their way to Chattisgarh, these seven districts may be affected. Presently, crops like mango, guava, vegetables and bananas may get damaged if they come.”
Telangana State Agriculture Department Commissioner B Janardhan Reddy, directed district collectors, agriculture and horticulture officials to be prepared. He said, “All the concerned officials have been instructed to be vigilant about the possible locust infestation. Required pesticides and chemicals have also been kept ready for spraying. Fire engines will also be used,” Mohan Reddy said.
Besides Telangana, Uttar Pradesh Agriculture department is also on high alert from locust attack. Locust is a swarm of grasshoppers, which migrate to tropical areas and could damage a huge bunch of cultivated crops. In a minute the bunch of locust could eat tonnes of crops.
Farmers and agriculture departments use kinds of pesticides to control locust attack and save farms.
Stauy tuned for further upates.
