The first half of 2020 is proving to be remarkably troubling for the whole world due to the still-marauding Covid pandemic and for India, now there is an added degree of consternation due to the progressively penetrating locust invasion. It has taken all stakeholders completely off-guard and was beyond expectation that such a huge swath of the country would be rendered susceptible overnight. The situation has reached such high disconcerting levels that it featured in Prime Minister’s monthly ‘Mann ki Baat’ radio address on Sunday and despite the current pandemic-ruled times, news of this attack and an impending agricultural calamity resulting thereby has as captured good amounts of space and time slots in conventional and social media.

Although it’s a developing event, from so far that has been accounted and analysed, there is enough to get alarmed. It’s in millions and growing by every passing minute and from the first sufferer Rajasthan, states of MP, UP, Gujarat and Maharashtra have quickly joined, compelling the Centre to issue warning to 12 states located in eastern part as well as down south. Record-wise, this outbreak is the worst in last three decades in India and there is more in offing as per FAO’s desert locust information centre which  has predicted that several rounds of invasions could continue till July, affecting a huge parts of western as well as eastern India and undoubtedly, agricultural lands running into thousands of acres will be the vulnerable target. This will be most unfortunate for the country facing a dual challenge- an economy which is gradually slipping into a zone of recession and the pandemic which has shaken the nerves due to the late surge on the concluding days of lockdown 4.0.

Analyses have gathered speed to find out the specific scientific causes of this unexpected and voluminous attack and there are hints it might have roots in the always-raging topic of global warming and allied aspects. So far as India’s response is concerned, it’s visible that it has not been desirably concrete. And reading the reactions of entomologists and agricultural scientists, it can be inferred that it might be due to the fact that since there were no major locust swarm  invasions after 1997, an apathy in adequate research had resulted. But, now it must have been deeply felt that renewed, concerted and result-oriented plans of actions are needed for comprehensive solutions to replace the seemingly queer methods of beating drums, tin containers, utensils and playing high-volume music to scare away the swarms.

In the past, locust incursions have driven various African nations to the brink of food insecurity. India mustn’t take it casually and launch more intense ‘counter-attacks’ against this unwanted ‘guest’. 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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