Locust Attacks have traditionally been associated with doomsday and is considered wrath of God in ancient civilizations across the globe. It was the cause of destruction of Egypt, wherein Egyptians faced God’s wrath after Pharaoh (their ruler) refused Moses’ demands to free the enslaved Israelites. In India, it is traditionally considered as horse of Lord Shiva- God of destruction.
Presently, India is facing an unprecedented and un-timely surge in Locust Swarms. The present Swarms have originated in Horn of Africa and have bred for three generations across Africa, Yemen, Somalia and Pakistan, before entering into India this year. Though India has the oldest system of Locust Warning Organisation in the world, established in the year 1939, this year the situation has worsen because of conditions favourable for breeding of Locust due to excessive rains in desert areas of Yemen, Oman, Somalia and Balochistan, caused as a result of strong positive dipole in Indian Ocean. Thereby, their breeding has gone un-checked. They have bred successfully for three generations before making their way to India.
The good news here is that India has already harvested its Rabi crops and the field are lying un-cultivated in most parts. Thereby, saving the loss of food grains. However, lack of standing crops of the field have prompted the Locust to make a move towards cities, attacking orange orchards, mango orchards and paddy fields in Bhandara, Gondia, Nagpur and Amravati districts of Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region and other plants and trees along its way.
INDIA’S PRESENT WAR AGAINST LOCUST SWARMS
India’s war against Locust is primarily being fought by spraying of pesticides using modern carriers such as Drones, Helicopters etc. Presently India has 21 “Micronair” and 26 “Ulvamast” sprayers to kill the pests. They are specialised sprayers that use malathion and other agents to contain the pests and import of 50 helicopters is in the process. Further, India is also deploying Drones to spray Insecticides on tall trees and inaccessible areas to control the Swarm. However, the Pesticides being deployed to counter the menace has serious repercussions for the environment and the human being. Most of the pesticides are carcinogenic and poison the environment, adversely affecting the local flora and fauna. India, presently is using Malathion 96 and Chlorpyrifos, both organophosphate pesticides, to control the locust swarms across states. Both are extremely toxic and high level of exposure to the pesticides may cause nausea, dizziness and even death. They can also impact soil fertility by altering the ecological balance. Therefore, it is imperative to deploy alternative bio-friendly methods to curb the menace.
LOCUST SWARM- A FIGHT TO BE WON BY USE OF BIO FRIENDLY EQUIPMENT/TECHNIQUES.
a. Use of Bio-Insecticide- Neem
Ancient India had well maintained system of use of bio-insecticide made of Neem oil and seeds. The Upavanavinod, an ancient Sanskrit treatise dealing with forestry and agriculture, cites Neem as a potent insecticide, effective against about 200 insects, including locusts, brown plant-hoppers, nematodes, mosquito larvae, Colorado beetles and boll weevils. This is an opportunity to put to test ancient practices detailed in our scriptures. There is substantial evidence to show that Locust do not eat the neem leaves and do not perch on trees sprayed of neem oil. Therefore, the Drones can be employed to spray insecticides made of Neem instead of Carcinogenic pesticides, especially in areas which have human habitation such as areas across gangetic planes, thereby minimizing the ecological harm.
b. Incentivising the farmers to catch Locust and using it in Poultry feed.
This is one of the most sustainable methods to control Locust Swarms. Examples from Yemen and Pakistan have shown that providing incentives to farmers to catch the Locust and later using it for Poultry Feed (as Locust are very high source of Protein) has provided a win-win situation to farmers, local business engaged in poultry and the authorities. Further, this has also checked the population of Locust within minimal or no impact on ecology of the surrounding area. During lockdown, when most of the labour in India is idle, this labour intensive technique can be used to provide jobs to them.
c. Use of Nets and digging of trenches across farms- With the continuous tracking of movement of Locust, it is possible to predict their path beforehand and install nets across field to catch them. It is a one-time cost and can be employed in other areas as well. Further, digging of trenches also prevents the entry of locust in the field. Digging of trenches has already started in Maharashtra.
d. Introduction and Protection of Birds such as Great Indian Bustard, Maynas in the farm land- The sharp decline in number of Great Indian Bustard, which is now categorised as Endangered Species has also added to the problem. Local birds such as Mynas and Great Indian Bustard can alone eliminate more Locust than human population can think of. Introduction of more of Great Indian Bustard and Mynas in the desert areas of Rajasthan, wherein the Locust breeds, will lead to their elimination as well as bringing ecological balance in the area.
Indiscriminate use of Pesticides, especially in areas inhabited by humans and the gangetic planes will do more harm than good. It might control the Swarms of Locust for the time being but in return would make the soil infertile and kill the other pests which are helpful for agriculture. Locust Swarms in the times of Pandemic, wherein industries are already locked down and pesticide production and procurement are already difficulty, provides India a silver lining to use multi-disciplinary methods, by encouraging farmers and Officers of Locust Warning Organisation to deploy use of Bio-Insecticides made of NEEM in areas habituated by human population and to encourage and incentivise catching of Locust Swarms, to be used as Poultry Feed. With Industries already locked down and migrant labour already in surplus in States such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, this labour-intensive method can be used to not only incentivise the farmers but also employing labours who have lost their jobs in cities owing to the Lockdown.
The Author of this article is Tanya Shree ,
you can connect with her for legal help on T S Associates.
The Author is an Advocate-On-Record, Supreme Court of India.
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