Locust swarm threatens crop in northern states

SRINAGAR: An unprecedented locust invasion in secluded Zanskar valley of arid Ladakh desert has triggered panic in the northern states as the swarming creatures threaten India’s rice bowl – Punjab and Haryana - and the fruit basket – J&K and Himachal. A central team of experts with scores of host officials have finally decided against any aerial pesticide spray and identified a chemical for use.

“This is the migratory locust and not a desert locust but it is capable of even eating human clothing and human hair”, Deputy Commissioner Kargil Asfandyar Khan told ET. “The problem is the creature is laying eggs deep into the soil by digging earth with their powerful antennas.

The eggs are apparently in plastics-like capsules and every capsule has stores around 100 eggs. Experts tell us that these eggs can survive even up to four years for an ideal climatic condition to get hatched”, Khan added.

Though a variety of insecticides were used, these have proved ineffective (especially in destroying their eggs) given the numbers – officials term them trillions - and the speed with which they are destroying the crops.

By now, officials in Srinagar said the locusts have already destroyed crops over an area of 400 square kms. The next target is Kishtwar belt of Doda following which it will spread to the Himachal and the rest of the plains.

Anti-locust operations entered a fast-forward mode only after Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi called for a joint action against involving all the north Indian states that are likely to get involved. A central team of experts flew to Srinagar a day after he personally took up the issue with the union government on August 11, officials in Azad’s office said.

Part of the team is in Changthang belt of Leh – where the particular locus was traced last year -and others in Zanskar. Unable to help the peasants in controlling the menace, the government has already started issuing free rations to the affected lot and plans are afoot compensate the losses.