{"id":162196,"date":"2020-06-08T12:00:47","date_gmt":"2020-06-08T11:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=162196"},"modified":"2020-06-04T05:51:18","modified_gmt":"2020-06-04T04:51:18","slug":"make-noise-and-dont-panic-india-tries-to-ward-off-locust-invasion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2020\/06\/make-noise-and-dont-panic-india-tries-to-ward-off-locust-invasion\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Make Noise and Don\u2019t Panic\u2019: India Tries to Ward off Locust Invasion"},"content":{"rendered":"

Delhi braces for swarm while farmers in badly-hit north play loud music and honk car horns to try to prevent decimation of fields.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Punjab on alert as marauding locust army ravages wheat crop in Rajasthan.
New Indian Express<\/p><\/div>\n

28 May 2020 – <\/em>Residents of Delhi are bracing themselves for a possible invasion of locusts, which have been ravaging areas in the north of the country.<\/p>\n

A change in wind direction could save the city, but Dr K L Gurjar, deputy director of the Locust Warning Organisation, has warned residents to be prepared to \u201cmake a lot of loud noise so that instead of settling, they keep flying and fly past the city. And don\u2019t panic\u201d.<\/p>\n

Parts of India are experiencing the worst locust invasion the country has seen for 25 years<\/a>. Skies above large parts of north India have darkened during the day due to millions of locusts. Rajasthan is the worst affected state, but Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Punjab have also experienced damaging swarms<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization\u2019s locust watch<\/a> website said the movement of the locusts has been affected by the strong westerly winds from Cyclone Amphan<\/a>, which hit the coast of India earlier this month.<\/p>\n

About 50,000 hectares have been affected by the insects so far. While produce in some parts of the country had already been harvested, in other areas farmers have seen the insects devour their crops. Unless the locusts are controlled, they fear summer crops could also be destroyed.<\/p>\n