India has controlled the spread of crop-threatening migratory pest desert locusts by using advanced technologies, including drones, and ensured there was not much crop damage, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday.

In his address after the virtual inauguration of college and administration buildings of Jhansi-based Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, the prime minister stressed on the need to promote greater use of latest technologies in the farm sector.

More than 10 states, including Uttar Pradesh, faced locust problem in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said adding that the Bundelkhand region faced the locust attack after 30 years.

Sharing how modern technologies are helpful in addressing the challenges faced by the farm sector, Modi said the speed at which locust swarms were spreading in the country, it was not possible to control them in traditional ways.

"In May, the Bundelkhand region had faced locust problem. ...I was told the region faced the locust attack after 30 years. Not only Uttar Pradesh, more than 10 states faced the locust problem," the prime minister said.

"India has controlled this problem in a scientific way," he said.

"If there was no coronavirus, a week long positive media debate would have been carried on this. A big success has been achieved," he added.

Asserting that the central government worked on a "war footing" to save crops from this pest, Modi said a dozen control rooms, including one in Jhansi, were set up and authorities procured special spray machines and distributed in the affected areas.

"Be it tractors or chemicals, all machineries were put in place to ensure farmers face less crop damage. To save tall trees, drones and helicopters were used for spraying. Following these measures, India has been able to save farmers from incurring huge losses," he said.

Emphasising the importance of modern farm technologies, the prime minister exhorted young researchers and agri-scientists to work on 'One life, One mission' to promote technologies like drone or artificial intelligence across the country.

For the last six few years, the government has been making efforts to take farm research directly to fields and make available scientific advise to even small farmers, he said.

"From college campus to field, there is a need to further strengthen the ecosystem for experts. For which, Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University will also play an important role," he added.

India faced the menace of locust problem in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Bihar.

However, the problem now has been controlled to a large extent after timely measures were taken by both the Centre and state governments in about 5.66 lakh hectare area in affected states, as per official data.

Even the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) had in its August 24 update said the risk of swarm migration to the Indo-Pakistan summer breeding area has nearly subsided.

India has controlled the spread of crop-threatening migratory pest desert locusts by using advanced technologies, including drones, and ensured there was not much crop damage, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday.

India has controlled the spread of crop-threatening migratory pest desert locusts by using advanced technologies, including drones, and ensured there was not much crop damage, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday. In his address after the virtual inauguration of college and administration buildings of Jhansi-based Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, the prime minister stressed on the need to promote greater use of latest technologies in the farm sector. More than 10 states, including Uttar Pradesh, faced locust problem in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said adding that the Bundelkhand region faced the locust attack after 30 years. Sharing how modern technologies are helpful in addressing the challenges faced by the farm sector, Modi said the speed at which locust swarms were spreading in the country, it was not possible to control them in traditional ways. "In May, the Bundelkhand region had faced locust problem. ...I was told the region faced the locust attack after 30 years. Not only Uttar Pradesh, more than 10 states faced the locust problem," the prime minister said. "India has controlled this problem in a scientific way," he said. "If there was no coronavirus, a week long positive media debate would have been carried on this. A big success has been achieved," he added. Asserting that the central government worked on a "war footing" to save crops from this pest, Modi said a dozen control rooms, including one in Jhansi, were set up and authorities procured special spray machines and distributed in the affected areas. "Be it tractors or chemicals, all machineries were put in place to ensure farmers face less crop damage. To save tall trees, drones and helicopters were used for spraying. Following these measures, India has been able to save farmers from incurring huge losses," he said. Emphasising the importance of modern farm technologies, the prime minister exhorted young researchers and agri-scientists to work on 'One life, One mission' to promote technologies like drone or artificial intelligence across the country. For the last six few years, the government has been making efforts to take farm research directly to fields and make available scientific advise to even small farmers, he said. "From college campus to field, there is a need to further strengthen the ecosystem for experts. For which, Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University will also play an important role," he added. India faced the menace of locust problem in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Bihar. However, the problem now has been controlled to a large extent after timely measures were taken by both the Centre and state governments in about 5.66 lakh hectare area in affected states, as per official data. Even the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) had in its August 24 update said the risk of swarm migration to the Indo-Pakistan summer breeding area has nearly subsided.

India controlled locust problem in a scientific way, says PM Modi

Pakistan is yet to respond to India's proposal for coordinated pest control along the border to deal with the locust crisis even as both sides are finally going to have a bilateral meet later this month as part of the annual meet&nbsp;to deal with the pest attack.&nbsp;

Watch Video:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pak-deploys-thousands-of-army-troops-to-battle-locust-invasion-303936/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

India had requested regular technical meet to happen earlier given the unprecedented scale of the locust crisis but Pakistan had dragged its feet.&nbsp;

The India-Pak meeting will be part of an existing institutionalized mechanism to deal with the locust crisis.

Under the mechanism, regular border meetings happen between the locusts officers of the two countries.

Six border meetings between the locust officers led by Plant Protection Advisers of India and Pakistan are held every year (June to November) either at Munabao (India side) and or at Khokhropar (Pakistan side) for exchanging information on locust situation of both the countries.&nbsp;

Wireless communication between Jodhpur (India) and Karachi (Pakistan) is also maintained every year during this period (June to Nov) for exchange of locust information between the two countries.&nbsp;

Pakistan is also yet to take Indian offer to facilitate the supply of pesticide Malathion for control operations on their side. This even as New Delhi has already dispatched consignment of 20,000 litres of pesticide to Iran.

India had also offered to supply pesticide to Iran to carry out desert locust control operations in its Sistan-Balochistan and South Khorasan provinces.

All the three&nbsp;countries also work under Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) SWAC - Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in Southwest Asia regional mechanism.

In March 2020, India's minister of state in the ministry of agriculture Kailash Choudhary had participated in a South West Asian Region virtual meeting coordinated by FAO to discuss regional cooperation to combat desert locust problem.

As per the FAO reports, in Iran, hopper bands of the locust which matured along the southwestern coastal plains are migrating to Pakistan and another group of pests are migrating to India from breeding areas in Baluchistan. Reports of locust attacks have surfaced in northwestern India.&nbsp;

The 2019–20 locust infestation has impacted more than 10 countries in Africa and South Asia and Iran, India and Pakistan are currently affected by the crisis.

Pakistan is yet to respond to India's proposal for coordinated pest control along the border to deal with the locust crisis even as both sides are finally going to have a bilateral meet later this month as part of the annual meet to deal with the pest attack.

Pakistan is yet to respond to India's proposal for coordinated pest control along the border to deal with the locust crisis even as both sides are finally going to have a bilateral meet later this month as part of the annual meet to deal with the pest attack. Watch Video: India had requested regular technical meet to happen earlier given the unprecedented scale of the locust crisis but Pakistan had dragged its feet. The India-Pak meeting will be part of an existing institutionalized mechanism to deal with the locust crisis. Under the mechanism, regular border meetings happen between the locusts officers of the two countries. Six border meetings between the locust officers led by Plant Protection Advisers of India and Pakistan are held every year (June to November) either at Munabao (India side) and or at Khokhropar (Pakistan side) for exchanging information on locust situation of both the countries. Wireless communication between Jodhpur (India) and Karachi (Pakistan) is also maintained every year during this period (June to Nov) for exchange of locust information between the two countries. Pakistan is also yet to take Indian offer to facilitate the supply of pesticide Malathion for control operations on their side. This even as New Delhi has already dispatched consignment of 20,000 litres of pesticide to Iran. India had also offered to supply pesticide to Iran to carry out desert locust control operations in its Sistan-Balochistan and South Khorasan provinces. All the three countries also work under Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) SWAC - Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in Southwest Asia regional mechanism. In March 2020, India's minister of state in the ministry of agriculture Kailash Choudhary had participated in a South West Asian Region virtual meeting coordinated by FAO to discuss regional cooperation to combat desert locust problem. As per the FAO reports, in Iran, hopper bands of the locust which matured along the southwestern coastal plains are migrating to Pakistan and another group of pests are migrating to India from breeding areas in Baluchistan. Reports of locust attacks have surfaced in northwestern India. The 2019–20 locust infestation has impacted more than 10 countries in Africa and South Asia and Iran, India and Pakistan are currently affected by the crisis.

Pakistan still to take up Indian offer on locust cooperation; both sides to talk under annual mechanism

India is preparing to battle a locust influx which has invaded Rajasthan & Madhya Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh also warned against the locust infestation. Watch this video to know more.

India prepares to battle locust influx, invades Rajasthan & Madhya Pradesh