Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Agarwal Evaluates Locust Control Operations At High-Level Meeting

According to the headings of the Union Minister of Agriculture, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, Sanjay Agarwal led a significant level gathering here today on Desert Locust Control. Senior Officers from the State Governments of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana, officials from Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home, National Disaster Management Authority and CMD of HIL (India) Limited, Special Secretary, DAC&FW, Agriculture Commissioner and different officials of DAC&FW partook in the gathering.

During the introduction, the insect control activities done from May 2019 to February 2020, challenges confronted and its accomplishments were talked about. Misfortunes brought about by beetle assault in Rajasthan and Gujarat and status of help under SDRF/NDRF was examined. It was educated that Inter-Ministerial groups had visited both Rajasthan and Gujarat to survey the harvest misfortune with the goal that extra assets, whenever required might be given from NDRF according to standards.

Control Operations were checked on and Secretary DAC&FW valued the incredible participation and coordination between State Governments and Central Government Departments. The following year's arrangement was talked about in detail according to the contributions from various partners. It was arranged that Central Government will direct Awareness crusades/preparing for State Government Officials/BSF faculty/Revenue Department authorities/ranchers at town level. Shri Agarwal guided authorities to compose preparing and mindfulness programs in every one of the 4 states (Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana) during March-April.

Report of Senior Locust Forecasting Officer of FAO, who visited India on January 16-17, 2020 was talked about. He has valued India's endeavors, noticing "swarms would be available in Haryana and Punjab, moving east towards Bangladesh like the 1950 when there were crushing diseases that endured up to 14 back to back years."

Keeping in see the current year's encounters, Secretary DAC&FW encouraged to reinforce joint facilitated endeavors with Locust Warning Organization, State Agriculture Department, BSF and Farmers. Farming Secretary guaranteed that all necessary help will be given to State Governments to beetle control.

For one year from now, it is proposed to fortify the control abilities, coordinations (pesticide, vehicle, tractors and so forth.) both in States and Central level and Capacity building projects will be led.

The Secretary said the Coordination Group Meeting of neighboring nations to be specific, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and Bangladesh might be assembled. He valued the current year's exceptional work in beetle control and expressed gratitude toward all the members and anticipated better endeavors in future.