Locust reemergence in Fazilka has Muktsar farmers worried

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, May 4

The fear of locusts still looms large over the region, as in the past few days, fields in the neighbouring Fazilka district have reported reemergence of the insect, triggering fear among farmers who are busy sowing cotton.

The Agriculture Department officials were claiming that everything was under control, but the situation might turn worse, the farmers claimed.

“We have neutralised locusts in Roopnagar and Bareka villages of Fazilka district by spraying insecticides. Besides, our officials are on alert. But nothing can be predicted about the invasion of locusts. These are coming via Pakistan. Earlier also, about three to four months ago, the insect had come from Pakistan. Now, it is to be seen where the insects have laid their eggs,” said Sutantar Kumar Airi, Director, Agriculture.

Airi said, “To prevent any attack of locusts, we have got the budget of Rs1 crore sanctioned from the state government. The Central government too will definitely do something in this regard.”

Early this year, the insect had affected lakhs of acres in Rajasthan.

Overwrought over this, some farmers appealed to Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to take congisance of the issue and devise some strategy to deal with it at a time when the country was already facing Covid-19 crisis. Farmers’ concern is grave because a swarm of one km (about 40 million locusts) can eat food equivalent to the amount that 30,000 to 35,000 people can eat in a day.