Locust migration from Africa to the Indian sub-continent is not likely to be a threat to India. So far only scattered and localized presence of locust has been reported from Gujarat. No reports of locust spotting have been received from Rajasthan.
Ministry of Agriculture and the Locust Unit of Directorate of Plant Protection & Quarantine are in constant touch with the State Government of Gujarat and Rajasthan and Punjab.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) issued a locust warning on 27th June 2007 stating that locust swarms were seen in the North-Eastern Somalia and the swarms could arrive in Pakistan and Rajasthan in the next 7 to 10 days. On receiving this high alert from FAO, the Central Government advised the State Governments to keep constant vigil and to keep themselves prepared to combat any locust infestation. On 28th June, Agriculture Secretary, Dr. P.K. Mishra spoke to the Gujarat Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary of Agriculture on this issue.
The field units of Locust Warning Organisation of India (LHO) located in Gujarat and Rajasthan, and the State Governments have been alerted and instructed to intensify the survey to detect any locust movement in the costal areas of Gujarat and the scheduled desert areas of Rajasthan.
Considering the probability of landing in Gujarat, the Collectors of Kutch, Rajkot, Jamnagar and other District authorities have been alerted. Control Rooms have been set up at the Office of District Collector, Bhuj and at LWO, Bhuj. The BSF authorities have also been alerted.
Four teams from LWO and four teams from the State Government are in the field for survey and control. Till 3rd July 2007, Joint Survey Teams surveyed a total 125 villages in Kutch District. The surveillance teams initially found small population of locust in about 100 ha. in Lakhpat Taluk of Kutch district, which is about 1.5 k.m. inside from the coastline. On further survey, they located locust population over a strip of area, extending approximately 10 km X 0.5-1 km covering the villages of Nanicher, Shilpar and Angarpura villages of Lakhpat Taluk of Kutch district of Gujarat.
There is adequate stock of pesticides and equipment for the control operations if such a need arises in future.
MP:CP:locust(5.7.2007)
(Release ID :29016)