Introduction

The “Locust Control and Research“ is one of the divisions of the Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage, being implemented through an Organization known as Locust Warning Organization(LWO) established in 1939, to monitor, forewarn and control of Desert Locust (an international pest) with its 10 Circle Offices located at Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Palanpur, Bhuj, Jalore, Phalodi, Nagaur, Suratgarh and Churu with its field Headquarters at Jodhpur and a Central Headquarter Faridabad. Besides, there is one Field Station for Investigations on Locusts (FSIL) situated at Bikaner. To strengthen the locust monitoring and forecasting, a Remote Sensing Laboratory has also been set up to prepare vegetation maps based on satellite imageries for locust forecasting.

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Mandate of the scheme
  • To monitor, forewarn and control the Locust in Indian Scheduled Desert Area (SDA) of Rajasthan, Gujarat and part of Haryana States in an area of about 2 lakh sq km by way of conducting survey and surveillance.
  • To conduct locust control operation in SDA if the situation so warrants.
  • To conduct research on locusts and grasshoppers at “Field Station for Investigations on Locusts” (FSIL), Bikaner.
  • To fulfill the international obligation and commitments to Control Desert Locust under the agreement of Desert Locust Control Committee (DLCC) of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as an International liability.

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Set-Up of Locust Warning Organization (LWO)

The scheme Locust Control and Research is being implemented through an Organisation known as Locust Warning Organisation (LWO). The Locust Warning Organization (LWO) monitors locust development/ activities over an area of 2.00 lakh sq km of the Scheduled Desert Area (SDA) in parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana States. It has 10 Circle Offices located at Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Palanpur, Bhuj, Jalore, Phalodi, Nagaur, Suratgarh and Churu with its field Headquarters at Jodhpur and a Central Headquarter Faridabad. Besides, there is one Field Station for Investigations on Locusts (FSIL) situated at Bikaner. To strengthen the locust monitoring and forecasting, a Remote Sensing Laboratory has also been set up to prepare vegetation maps based on satellite imageries for locust forecasting. (LWO) maintains its own wireless network for exchanging informations on locust surveys and control between Locust Outposts, Circle offices and Headquarters, Faridabad. Wireless communication between Jodhpur (India) and Karachi (Pakistan) is also maintained every year during June to November for exchanging locust intelligence between the two countries). Satisfactory locust control potential is being maintained in the form of pesticides, plant protection equipments, wireless sets and trained technical, wireless communication and mechanical staff.  A satisfactory locust control potential is being maintained in the form of pesticides, equipment, a fleet of 143 vehicles, 64 Nos. of wireless sets, 52 GPS and trained staff. Besides, there is one “Field Station for Investigations on Locusts” (FSIL) situated at Bikaner. Presently the total staff strength of Locust Control and Research scheme at various levels is 265 (Central H.Q 5, Field H.Q Jodhpur 48, Field Circle Offices 182 and FSIL Bikaner 30.)

Setup of Locust Warning Organisation (LWO)

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OBJECTIVES, FUNCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES OF LWO:

Objectives:
  • To monitor and forewarn the locust activity/situation in Scheduled Desert Area of Rajasthan, Gujarat and part of Haryana by way of intensive and extensive locust survey and surveillance.
  • To organize locust control operations for preventing the locust menace and crop losses in case of any locust upsurge/invasion.
  • To conduct Research on locusts and Grasshoppers to evolve eco-friendly control measures.

Functions:
  • To keep constant and close watch and regular monitoring on the locust activity in the SDA through regular surveys and also to conduct control operations, if the situation so warrants.
  • To keep close coordination and liaison with Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO) of United Nations and neighbouring countries for exchange of locust information and to seek technical/financial assistance.
  • To organize trainings for the farmers, LWO staff, State officers and Defence/BSF personnel about locust intelligence, identification and control.
  • To conduct field oriented research on Locusts and Grasshoppers so as to evolve eco-friendly bio-control methods of locust control.

Activities:

  1. Locust surveillance and monitoring through 5 Circle Offices and 23 Outposts.

  2. Organising control operations against locust build up of locust population and invading  locust swarms.

  3. To issue fortnightly locust situation bulletins and their circulation to locust prone countries.

  4. Organising Indo-Pak border Meetings and maintaining wireless contact between Jodhpur and Karachi during June to November.

  5. Coordination with locust prone countries and FAO as a part of International Commitment.

  6. Participation in International Meetings on Locust and Regional Commission.

  7. Conducting field research on locust behaviour, biology and control.

  8. Efforts for use of satellite data for locust surveillance and forecasting.

Achievements:

           The greatest achievement of Locust Warning Organization (LWO) is that no Locust Plagues have occurred/ reported since 1962, only due to careful and extensive surveys monitoring and successful control operations undertaken by LWO against exotic swarms and localized small and large scale locust breeding at all occasions. As a result, the devastation of cultivated crops could be avoided by controlling the locust in SDA several times in the past which resulted in the saving enormous crop/vegetation losses. 

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LOCUST PLAGUE CYCLES AND UPSURGES OBSERVED IN INDIA

          Plagues

1812-1821

1900-1907

1843-1844

1912-1920

1863-1867

1926-1930

1869-1873

1940-1946

1876-1881

1949-1955

1889-1891

1959-1962

 

Upsurges

Year

No. of swarms incursion

1964

004

1968

167

1970

002

1973

006

1974

006

1975

019

1976

002

1978

020

1983

026

1986

003

1989

015

1993

172

1997

004

      Small scale localized locust breeding have also been reported and controlled during the period from 1998-2005.

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Field Station For Investigations on Locust (FSIL):

Field Station for Investigations on Locusts (FSIL) was established in 1957 at Bikaner, Rajasthan (India) under the Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage of Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC) in the Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India. It is a research station for conducting field research on Locust and grasshoppers.

This Institution is responsible for conducting research on various aspects of Locusts and Grasshoppers viz. biology, ecology and control in the field/laboratory conditions with ultimate aim of finding out cheaper, more effective and environmental friendly methods of Locust Control. Different Laboratory and field trials are conducted for which a laboratory is maintained. The mass rearing of locust is done in the laboratory and field cage conditions.

The results of the research which are of practical value are passed on to LWO for adoption. This station is headed by a Deputy Director(Entomology) who is assisted by two Assistant Directors (Entomology), an Assistant Statistician and one Junior Scientific Officer along with 31 other supportive staff members of different categories. This station has got a meteorological observatory and two field cages for conducting observations under semi natural conditions. Recently, the building of LWO Bikaner Circle Office has also been constructed in the same premises which will also facilitate in executing the technical programmes of each other by providing close cooperation. Thus, all the total 35 staff members of FSIL remain engaged for research on Locusts and Grasshoppers throughout year in achieving its broad Technical Programme.

Mandate of Field Station for Investigations on Locust (FSIL):
  • To conduct research study on various aspects of biology, ecology and behaviour of Locusts and Grasshoppers.
  • To study and evaluate the different chemical and biological pesticides against Locusts and Grasshoppers in Laboratory and field conditions.
  • To evaluate and evolve new techniques for the control and monitoring of Locusts and grasshoppers.

Activities of Field Station for Investigations on Locust (FSIL)

 

  • Mass rearing of different species of Locusts and Grasshoppers in Laboratory and field

        cages.

  • Mass production of entomophagus live Metarhyzium anisoplae and Beauveria bassiana fungi.

  • To study Biology of Grasshoppers and Locusts.

  • Toxicological Studies- Screening of newer chemical, biological, plant origin insecticides

        against Locust and Grasshoppers.

  • Biochemical studies of different plants on Locusts and grasshoppers.

  • Ecological surveys and co-relation of ecological factors on population buildup of locust.

  • Field trails of different chemical, biological and plant origin insecticides against Locusts and

        Grasshoppers.

  • To participate in locust control operation during the locust incursions.

  • To conduct research trials on various aspects of behaviour, ecology and biology of locust

        during the locust incursions.

  • Collection & collation of meteorological Data. 

  • To conduct light trap study on Locusts and Grasshoppers. 

  • To conduct trainings for LWO staff and farmers regarding Locust Monitoring and Control.

Major Achievement of FSIL:

Publication work- This station contributed/ published 158 scientific research papers on various aspects

                          of Locusts and Grasshoppers in different scientific journals of national and

                          International repute.

 

Research programme of FSIL:

  • Screening of newer insecticides against Locusts & Grasshoppers.

  • Field evaluation of Insect growth Regulator (IGR) against Desert Locust and Grasshoppers.

  • Study of Entomopathogens Metarhyzium anisoplae and Beauveria bassiana against    

        Locusts and Grasshoppers under Laboratory & field conditions to substitute chemical

        pesticides.

  • Study of biology of different species of Locusts & Grasshoppers in cropped as well as in

        desert areas.

  • Study of neem based pesticides to explore the possibilities of locusts and Grasshoppers

        control in cropped as well as in desert area.

  • Co-relation of meteorological/weather factors and incidence of locust.

  • Study of Role of biotic and abiotic factors in locust control.

  • To organize training course on biology, behaviour and monitoring and control of locust.

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International Cooperation programmes

1. To participate in the meetings/ sessions of the FAO’s Desert Locust Control

    Committee(DLCC)

 

2. To participate and organize the meetings/sessions of FAO’s Commission for Controlling

    Desert Locust in South West Asia.

3. To organize Indo-Pak border meetings

4. Wireless contacts with Karachi(Pakistan)

5. To conduct/participate the Indo-Pak bilateral issues on Locust.

6. Exchange of locust situation/ informations through e-mail and locust situation bulletins.

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Locust Station Bulletin

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