No significant crop losses reported from 10 states

Locust control operations have been conducted on 2,58,406 hectares of farm land in the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana by Locust Circle Offices (LCOs) from April 11 to August 8, 2020.

The state governments of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Bihar have also conducted control operations have been done in 2,64,491 hectares till August 9.

At 46 places in 7 districts including Barmer, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Nagaur, Churu, Hanumangarh and Sriganganagar of Rajasthan and 1 place in Kutch district of Gujarat, control operations were carried out during day and night time on the August 9 against hoppers and some scattered adults by LCOs.

Presently, 104 control teams with spray vehicles and 200 Central Government personnel are deployed in Rajasthan and Gujarat for locust control operations. Further, 15 drones are deployed at Barmer, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Nagaur and Phalodi in Rajasthan for eradicating locusts on tall trees and in inaccessible areas through spraying of pesticides. A Bell helicopter has been deployed in Rajasthan for use in Scheduled Desert Area as per the need. Indian Air Force is also conducting trials in anti-locust operation by using a Mi-17 helicopter.