Alarming desert locust upsurges heading from Africa to India

Abstract

Regular invasions of locust swarms were witnessed from the start in 2020 along east Africa, Middle East and South-West Asia. The upsurges of swarms that were in continuous head from Africa to Indo-Pakistan borders resulted in subsequent and frequent encounters of locusts which were witnessed in Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat near border areas till November 2020. Further, the wind movements moved the swarms towards Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi and Maharashtra, that had led to a real concern. Control operations were in continuation against adult and immature groups and maturing swarms in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and other invading areas. Constant vigil and preparedness of locust management efforts had brought the situation under control. India has been complimented by FAO for its efforts in controlling the locust situation and for being the first country which employed drones for successful management of locusts. Effective preventive management strategy for locust control primarily involves efficient monitoring and surveillance that employed the acquisition of an improved knowledge of the pest biology and ecology. Further, the central government (LWO, and FSIL) and state government got involved into a strong networking mode that ensured adequate preparedness to combat the subsequent wave of locust invasions in India. This brought the situation under control and till December 2019, India has not experienced any of the solitary as well as gregarious locust activity. The present global situation (FAO Desert locust Situation update, 10 December 2020) marks the initiation of locust breeding in Eastern Ethiopia and central Somalia, which is likely to bring an upsurge in locust population along both sides of Red Sea. Hence, intensive surveys and control measures need to be undertaken and adequate preparedness is to be ensured on part of each Country’s end.