BHUBANESWAR: Another nightmare stares at farmers who are already struggling due to coronavirus and lockdown. There is high possibility of locusts, which have attacked crops in parts of North India and entered Madhya Pradesh, migrating to the State. Directorate of Extension Education of the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) on Tuesday issued an advisory to farmers asking them to take precautionary measures in view of the attack of desert locusts that have already wreaked havoc on crops and vegetation in several states including Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana and Punjab.
The extension department of OUAT has advised farmers residing in areas bordering Chhattisgarh to keep a close watch on locust activity in the neighbouring state and take immediate preventive measures like spraying of neem seed kernel extract (NSKE) or neem-based insecticides on standing crops.
As per the control strategy, farmers were asked to spray NSKE solution (5 per cent of NSKE concentrate in 200 liters of water per acre) on crops and vegetation after sunset as a precaution against locust attack. Neem-based insecticides available in the market can be used for the purpose. The doses to be used are 300 ppm of insecticide per 200 liters of water.
On spotting locusts migration to their agriculture land, farmers were advised to beat utensils or use thorny bushes to drive away the flying insects. As locusts stop movement and settle on vegetation and trees after dusk, farmers were asked to shake the host trees with large polythene spread underneath and kill the fallen warms by drowning them in kerosene mixed water.Desert locust are short-horned grasshoppers with highly migratory habits and voracious feeding behaviour. The pest is particularly characterised by its ability to breed rapidly and feed on any kind of vegetation.
Eye on the locusts
Farmers residing in Chhattisgarh border areas asked to keep a close watch on locust activity
Spray neem seed kernel extract or neem-based insecticides on standing crops
Farmers advised to beat utensils or use thorny bushes to drive away the flying insects
Locusts stop movement and settle on vegetation after dusk
Farmers asked to shake host trees by spreading polythene
Kill the fallen warms by drowning them in kerosene mixed water