Swarms of locusts destroy standing crops in Uttar Pradesh's Agra

Swarms of locusts entered the Agra city on Tuesday; control team across the city were deployed for their elimination. The swarms also attacked places of greenery.

Agra (UP): Swarms of locusts passing through Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh border attacked Agra city of Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday and reportedly destroyed standing crops in the area.

Many districts of Uttar Pradesh including Ambedkar Nagar, Prayagraj, Chitrakoot, Pratapgarh, Bhadoni, Azamgarh have been facing the wrath of locust attack in the past 48 hours and the locals were seen clanging utensils to drive away the swarms.

District Agricultural Defence Officer, Dr Rampravesh said a team has been constituted, whenever, such locust attacks are reported the team goes and provides solutions to farmers so that they tackle the situation easily.

"Operations are on to control them. The issue is, older swarms were killed but the new swarms have been moving from one district to the other. A team was also set up in Baroli Ahir village in Fatehpur Sikri. Locusts which came from Firozabad has now gone towards Hathras district. The swarms have so far affected Peepal Mandi, Vijay Nagar, Gandhinagar, Gaushala, Mantola, Jawahar Bridge, Yamuna Paar, Sikandra, Tajganj, Fatehabad Road, Barauli Ahir and the problem continues to aggravate as Pakistan is continuously failing to address the locust-issue. The monsoon season is another threat as locusts are attacking crops despite taking all the precautions."

The desert locust is a species of locust, a swarming short-horned grasshopper. They are known to devour everything in their path, posing an unprecedented threat to the food supply and livelihoods of millions of people.