The farmers of Rajasthan have been fighting a different kind of a menace to their crops. Pests known as Locust have infested some part of the state particularly border areas of Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Phalodi, Barmer and Suratgarh.
These pests have come in from Pakistan with the support of gusty winds. Locust is a brown grasshopper that lays eggs when there is moisture and grows very rapidly and destroys the crop at a larger scale. Though they have been observed in huge numbers in Rajasthan, the dry weather in the state is definitely not going to aid in their growth which will make it easier for the farmers and the government authorities to handle the menace.
In fact, the Locust Warning Organizations (Jodhpur) has already begun its effort in tackling the situation by spraying chemicals.
A week back, Locust attack was also witnessed by the farmers of Churu district and Suigram village of Banaskantha district near Palanpur. But its spread was controlled due to spray of bio pesticides. The dry weather conditions to proved helpful in arresting the growth of the pests.
Some farmers in the area are confused between Locust and Green Grasshoper. Let us make it clear that Green Grasshoper attack is also observed in few pockets of the state like Sri Ganganagar but the damage to the crops is very limited compared to Locust attack. Green Grasshopper infestation starts in June/July and ends in August with the rains.
Image Credit: NDTV
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