In Pictures

In Pictures: India braces for worst locust invasion in decades

In the worst such attack since 1993, swarms of desert locusts devastate crops in the middle of the coronavirus lockdown.

Swarms of locust attack in the walled city of Jaipur, Rajasthan, Monday, May 25, 2020. More than half of Rajasthans 33 districts are affected by invasion by these crop-munching insects.(Photo by Visha — Swarms of locusts in the walled city of Jaipur, capital of Rajasthan state. More than half of the state's 33 districts are affected by the invasion of these crop-munching insects. [Vishal Bhatnagar/NurPhoto via Getty]

Swarms of desert locusts have become the latest threat faced by coronavirus-hit India, with states scrambling to spray pesticides to prevent crop damage from the worst such attack in almost 30 years.

Crops and vegetable plantations in several Indian states, including Rajasthan, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh are in the path of the invading insects.

The government has stepped up its response with locust containment measures and a pesticide-spraying campaign which includes the use of drones.

Operations are being conducted in more than 300 locations across several districts of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, agriculture ministry spokesman Praveen Kavi said on Thursday.

Farms of vegetables, pulses and cotton crops have been attacked by the locusts which devour “any sort of vegetation or green”, a government official said.

This is the worst locust infestation India has seen since 1993, but swarms are not new to the country.

The insects arrive from Pakistan between July and October and mostly affect the northwestern Rajasthan state, said KL Gurjar from India’s Locust Warning Organisation.

Swarms of desert locusts have also been attacking entire areas of East Africa for months leading the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization to warn about threats to food security in the region.

The desert locust is among the most dangerous migratory pests in the world. A square-kilometre swarm can consume the equivalent of food for 35,000 people in one day, the UN agencies have warned.

Swarms of locust attack in the residential areas of Jaipur, Rajasthan, Monday, May 25, 2020. More than half of Rajasthans 33 districts are affected by invasion by these crop-munching insects.(Photo by — This is the worst locust infestation India has seen since 1993. [Vishal Bhatnagar/NurPhoto via Getty]

A man hold locust during the swarms of locust attack in the residential areas of Jaipur, Rajasthan, Monday, May 25, 2020. More than half of Rajasthans 33 districts are affected by invasion by these cr — The desert locust is among the most dangerous migratory pests in the world. [Vishal Bhatnagar/NurPhoto via Getty]

In this photograph taken on May 25, 2020 a resident tries to fend off swarms of locusts from a mango tree in a residential area of Jaipur in the Indian state of Rajasthan. - Authorities on May 25 were — The insects have damaged seasonal crops in many Indian states, devastating farmers already struggling with the impact of a strict coronavirus lockdown. [Vishal Bhatnagar/AFP]

epa08449035 Locusts seen flying and clings to the various surfaces in Jaipur, India, 25 May 2020 (issued 28 May 2020). Locusts attacked on the various parts of Rajasthan and destroying the crops and — Residential areas in Jaipur are overwhelmed by the insects as bewildered locals bang on pots and pans to try and ward off the insects. [Vishal Bhatnagar/EPA]