Locusts won’t attack state, says Tamil Nadu Agricultural University

COIMBATORE: Though the agriculture department has ordered a survey to check for presence of desert locusts in the state, entomologists in Tamil Nadu Agricultural University say the desert locust swarm is unlikely to hit the state. They say this assumption is based on wind direction, which is what moves the locusts from one place to the next. They say the swarm which is now in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh may not move towards Tamil Nadu.
Speaking to TOI, professor of entomology, N Muthukrishnan, said the wind that is now blowing from the west to east of the country, will carry the locust swarms from Madhya Pradesh and UP to Chhattisgarh. “The winds have to miraculously do a U-turn for the swarms to reach Tamil Nadu,” he said.
“Even assuming the locusts by some chance do hit Tamil Nadu, farmers should know that we have some solutions for it. Like if they are laying eggs, we can apply an insecticide on the soil and plough it killing the eggs, if we find small nymphs, we can kill them on the ground by spraying insecticide on them,” he added. “We have solutions for adult locusts too, like playing loud music and not allowing them to rest on plants, and then spraying insecticide,” he added.
TNAU says the incoming South West monsoon will also slow down the movement of the locusts and its feeding frenzy.
“The locusts usually come only in June-July season. The fact that they are coming from Africa to Asia during a different season, shows that they are not in the comfort zone. However, the rain will reduce wind speed, which in turn will slow down its spread, allowing us to find ways to kill it,” said the professor.
Meanwhile, district agricultural officials have got into a precautionary mode to preempt any locust attack.
Officials have been conducting surveillances of fields in border areas and have been spreading awareness among farmers.
Officials said state-level authorities, through a video-conferencing on Wednesday, had directed them to take up the above-mentioned precautionary measures. Following this, block-level officials, on Thursday, started inspecting fields in border areas, such as Anaimalai, Pollachi North and South, Madukkarai, Kinathukadavu and Perianaickenpalayam.
“Officials have been conducting preliminary surveillance of the areas to detect any instance of the insect attack. We would also work with horticulture officials in the Nilgiris,” the official said. “Officials have also been asking farmers to immediately report if they sight the insects.”