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Locusts damage Rabi crops: Bikaner farmers

JAIPUR: The farmers in Bikaner reported damage of their standing Rabi crops in the fresh wave of attack by locusts to the agriculture department last week. The western districts of Rajasthan are, as recorded, under the biggest locust attack, which started in May 2019.


"The reports of mustard and groundnut crops damage by some farmers are being validated at the joint director level.

Once the report confirms that the damage done is by locusts, the farmers will be given relief as per the rules," said Om Prakash, commissioner, state agriculture department.

This is for the first time that the department has received any complaint of crop damage due to locust attack from across the western Rajasthan.

The attack was spread in 3 lakh hectares of land, including 4,000 hectares of cropped area. The four worst affected districts are Barmer, Jaisalmer, Ganganagar and Sirohi. The farmers have been fortunate that locusts travelled more on the non-cropped areas or barren land else the damage could have been huge. "The delay in monsoon delayed the sowing of Kharif which saved the crops from damage by locusts in the initial attacks. Barely, 1.2% of the land area has been affected," said Prakash. The department is at wits' end to contain the spread of locusts. It operates in the cropped area while the non-cropped area is being handled by Locust Warning Organization, Jodhpur.

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