PANJIM: As massive swarms of desert locusts enter neighbouring Maharashtra, destroying crops, the Goa Agriculture department is closely monitoring the situation. With paddy being already harvested, a vigil is being maintained to protect horticultural crops.
The locust swarms, which first attacked Rajasthan, have now spread to five other States – Punjab, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
Locusts belong to the family of grasshoppers and are usually harmless but certain environmental conditions like monsoon and heavy cyclones make them reproduce faster. The swarm is highly mobile and covers 50 to more than 100 km in a day.
Director Agriculture Nevil Alphonso said that department is monitoring the situation and movement of locusts. “At present there is 100% paddy harvesting. Paddy is our major crop. But we will have to take precautions as far as other horticulture crops are concerned,” he said.
Alphonso said that considering the situation, necessary precautionary warning will be issued to the farmers. Also, the authorities concerned will be asked to carry out spraying of insecticide/pesticide as per the requirements, he added.
The Director however maintained that at present the locusts are moving towards the Northward side of Maharashtra. “There is no impact along the Konkan belt as of now,” he added.
