Kawardha (Chhattisgarh): With the threat of an imminent locust swarm attack on their crops amid the COVID-19 outbreak, the farmers here have been left facing a double whammy and scurrying to arrange DJs' musical instruments, besides pesticides, to drive away grasshoppers.
In the wake of this, the Chhattisgarh administration is taking all the precautions to tackle entry of swarms of locust.
It is being speculated that the locusts can enter the state via Nandgaon and come to the border area of Lohara in Kawardha district.
The agriculture department and farmers of districts bordering Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra are on high alert.
If locusts enter the district at night, insecticides will be sprayed to remove them, for this, the fire brigade has also been alerted. Agriculture centres have also been asked to keep a stock of pesticides, the official said.
The agricultural authorities have also advised farmers to make arrangements for spraying their crops with pesticides, besides arranging for loud musical instruments, like discs jockeys' (DJs') music, to drive away grasshoppers.
Earlier on Thursday, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said that 15 sprayers will arrive from Britain in the next 15 days. Tomar held a high-level meeting to review locust control operations in the country. The Centre is in close touch with affected States and an advisory has been issued.
Locust swarms from Pakistan have entered Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh threatening major damage to standing cotton crops and vegetables.
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 food supply and livelihoods of millions of people.
(With inputs from ANI, PTI)
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