(a) whether some States like Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are likely to
be attacked by the locust swarm;
(b) if so, the action taken by the Government in this regard;
(c) whether the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the UN has advised the
Government to deal with this problem in coordination with Pakistan;
(d) if so, whether the Government has formulated any action plan in this regard; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI KANTI LAL BHURIA)
(a)to(e): The FAO has apprised India of a relatively low risk of locust invasion during the
latter part of 2005 in its North Western region, if ecological conditions in the coastal region of
the Red Sea, the Gulf countries, Afganistan and Pakistan favour successful spring breeding.
FAO has suggested that India should continue to monitor the global locust situation and carry out
regular surveys in its domestic territory and with Pakistan in the border areas to detect any locust
build up.
A contingency plan is in place to deal with any locust eventuality. The contingency plan
focuses on regular survey and survelliance in the Scheduled Desert Area in the Western Region
of the country for timely detection and control of locusts, maintaining readiness in terms of
control measures including pesticides and equipment, and exchange of information with
neighboring countries and FAO.