These insects have entered Iran, Pakistan and now several states in India. (File)
Bhubaneswar:
The Odisha government on Sunday alerted farmers to a possible locust plague in the state and advised them to take precautions, but said there was no reason to panic.
Odisha is likely to be a victim of locusts, which have attacked states like Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Farmers have been urged to remain vigilant, said Minister of Agriculture Arun Kumar Sahoo.
Stressing that there is no reason to panic, the minister told PTI that the state government and the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) have already issued a notice to do so. in the face of any locust invasion.
According to the latest information, migratory pests are expected to enter western Odisha districts such as Sundergarh, Bargarh, Kalahandi and Bolangir and damage vegetable plantations and trees, he said.
The necessary steps have been taken to educate farmers, while the movement of locust swarms will be closely monitored at district and block levels, said Sahoo.
The Dean of the OUAT Education Extension Directorate L M Gadnayak said that steps were being taken to publish Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to deal with a possible locust invasion.
According to indications from the Center and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), locust swarms are expected to reach Odisha in June and could affect crops in several regions, particularly in the western region.
The locusts, mainly found in East Africa, eat the crops and the green part of the trees. Lots of rainfall in East Africa helped the insects to reproduce and multiply. These insects have entered Iran, Pakistan and now several states in India.
The minister said that Odisha has not suffered a locust attack in recent years, but the government is ready to deal with any situation.
Farmers residing in border areas with other states were urged to remain vigilant and take the measures suggested by the Ouat and the government, he said.
Sahoo said farmers were asked to spray 200 liters of a five percent neem seed solution per acre of soil during the afternoon to prevent locust attacks. They can also prepare a solution by adding neem insecticide 300PPM in 200 liters of water and spraying on the crop, he said.
The OUAT, in its opinion to the farmers, also asked them to follow the treatment with neem. He added that farmers can beat cans to hunt locusts. Farmers can brandish branches full of thorns to prevent locust attacks.
The opinion of OUAT said that farmers can spread polyethylene sheets under the trees with locusts in the evening and shake them vigorously so that the insects fall on the leaves. They can then collect these locusts and put them in water mixed with kerosene to kill them.
As locusts stop movement and settle on vegetation after the evening, farmers can also strike tree branches and crops to kill insects and destroy them by setting fire.
