India the heart of the united states battle the worst attack of the lobster in 27 years: What does it mean for the economy?

After Pakistan declared a national emergency on February battle locusts destroying crops on a large scale in the province of Punjab, now India is fighting against the desert locust in the country in the heart of the states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Gujarat and Punjab have also warned the farmers of the locust invasions. The locusts that bred and matured in Iran and Pakistan, Balochistan reached Rajasthan.

In Rajasthan, 16 out of the affected districts, in 17 and Madhya Pradesh reported one of the worst attacks in 27 years. The swarms could move to the Rajasthan-Haryana border and then going to Delhi. Four teams of central government and the state machines of agricultural development are the use of chemical sprays, with the help of tractors and fire rescue vehicles to keep the bugs at bay.

This is the second round of attack of the lobster in India after the December-February period when teams were deployed spraying of organophosphorus pesticides to kill the pests. Scientists have attributed the second round to a number of cyclones in the Indian ocean that affected an area of sand in the Arabian peninsula, which creates conditions for the breeding of the lobster.

The locust attacks in India usually last until November, but this year the clouds stayed until February, scientists believe that it was due to the climate crisis. Last year’s extended monsoon, which started six weeks before, in July, in the west of India, and lasted until November, produced from the natural vegetation for the locusts to feed on and create ideal breeding

What are the locusts?

The desert locust is one of the 12 species of short-horned grasshoppers. Swarms of locusts can travel up to 130 km in a day and each locust can consume around two grams of fresh vegetation that is to say, the equivalent of his own weight. A typical swarm of locusts can vary from less than one square kilometre to several hundred square kilometres.

What are the economic consequences of locust invasions?

The locusts can destroy standing crops and destroyed the livelihoods of the people in the agricultural supply chain. The invasions of locusts could pose a threat to food security, the Food and agricultural Organization has warned. According to the FAO, a one square kilometer swarm of locusts, with about 40 million locusts, which can, in a day of eating as much food as 35,000 people, assuming that each individual consumes 2.3 kg of food per day.

Experts have warned that if the current swarms are not controlled, the permanent Moong crops of cereals worth around Rs 8,000 crore in Madhya Pradesh it could be destroyed. He added that if the insects are not controlled and travel long distances, the cotton and the cold of the crops worth several thousands of crores of rupees may also be damaged. Pests can also harm the nurseries of fruits and vegetables.

Farmers have been asked to keep insects away using loud sounds through the drums, the beating of utensils and screaming. The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has deployed drones, satellites, derived tools, special fire-offerings and sprayers at pre-identified border crossing points.

The locust attacks in India, Iran, Pakistan, and Africa, call for a collaborative effort at the international level to combat the challenge. India has offered a trilateral response in collaboration with Pakistan and Iran to fight against the desert locust wave.