DW BUREAU / chandigarh Haryana government has stepped up efforts to control locust swarms and prevent losses due to crop damage, in view of warning regarding potential intense attacks in several districts after July 22. While stating this here today, Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Department, Sanjeev Kaushal, said that among other measures, arrangements were being made to stock additional quantities of pesticide Lamda Cyhalothrin 5 EC. He said that locust swarms in the region had become resistant to the commonly used pesticide Chorpyriphos. To prevent homogeneity in use of pesticides during repeated spraying, arrangements are being made to stock 20,000 litres of Lamda Cyhalothrin in addition to existing stocks of pesticide. The Haryana State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation Limited (HAFED) would stock an additional 10,000 litres of Lamda Cyhalothrin, Haryana Seed Development Corporation (HSDC) would stock 4,000 litres, and Haryana Land Reclamation and Development Corporation (HLRDC) would stock 6,000 litres. HAFED, HLRDC and HSDC already have approximately 48,000 litres of Chorpyriphos in stock, whereas HLRDC already has 5,000 litres of Lamda Cyhalothrin. He said that three drones were being purchased for aerial spray of pesticide. As many as 66 fire brigade vehicles were available, as well as 3,540 tractor-mounted spray pumps. The State Government would also acquire fogging machines being bought by the Centre from the United Kingdom (UK) for use on trees. Locust Warning Organisation has warned of more high-intensity attacks in districts Nuh, Rewari, Mahendragarh, Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri after July 22, after large-scale locust breeding was observed in district Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan. These attacks are likely to be far more severe than the ones that have already occurred over 13,038 acres in districts Jhajjar, Charkhi Dadri, Palwal, Sirsa, Nuh, Rewari, Bhiwani and Narnaul between June 26 and July 16. Kaushal said that the preparatory measures put in place by the officials of the Department had prevented significant losses in most districts during these attacks. Farmers in districts Jhajjar, Palwal and Nuh did not report any losses due to damage to crops by locust swarms. While farmers in most districts suffered losses to the tune of five to ten per cent, quick action by officials of the Department ensured that those in the worst-hit districts Rewari and Sirsa did not suffer losses of more than 30 per cent. He said that officials of the Department had swung into action, utilising 4,808 litres of pesticide sprayed over 8,245 acres. They were assisted by farmers who banged utensils to drive away the insects. No losses were reported in district Jhajjar where teams of the Department sprayed 100 litres of pesticide over 170 acres, in district Palwal where 421 litres were sprayed over 1,055 acres, and in district Nuh where 480 litres were sprayed over 1,000 acres in forest and hilly areas. Similarly, about 93 per cent to 95 per cent of bajra and cotton crops were saved in district Narnaul, where 543 litres of pesticide were sprayed over 125 acres. Farmers in district Bhiwani reported losses of up to ten per cent, with 1,072 litres of pesticides sprayed over 1,246 acres. Locusts had attacked cotton, bajra, jowar, sugarcane and fallow land in the district. Farmers in district Charkhi Dadri reported losses of up to 15 per cent, where 551 litres were sprayed over 1,337 acres with cotton, bajra, fodder and sugarcane crops. (editor@dailyworld.in)