Agriculture department inspects locust infestation in Longkei village

DIMAPUR — Following report of locust infestation in Longkei village under Mon district, a team of officials from the Agriculture department led by its deputy director, Dr. Beremjungla visited the area on July 27 to assess the situation.

The team found that the locusts had infested fields located at Punuho area in Longkei village, near the Tiru valley and Singhan Wildlife Sanctuary, stated an update from Agriculture department.

As indicated by the farmers that the swarm came from Pongkong village, the team proceeded to Pongkong village for further inspection and learned that locusts were first seen in Tiru valley on July 25-26, which moved to Pongkong village and then to Longkei.

It was observed that the locusts have damaged five fields covering around 8.2 hectares. However, the intensity of damage was low to moderate.

The team provided pest management training emphasising on locust control and distributed inputs such as Azadirachtin, Malathion, Fipronil and Thiamethoxam including knapsack sprayers.

It added that farmers were instructed to use those inputs only if further locust incursions occurred.

As the department would continue to monitor locust incursions, it has requested the farmers to coordinate with them for prompt intervention.

The department mentioned that locusts, which are typically harmless in low numbers, could become highly destructive under conditions like drought followed by rapid vegetation growth which causes them to breed rapidly.

Also read: Locust swarm devastates crops in Mon’s Longkei village