Nearly 10 million locusts entered Nepal from India

Kathmandu: The crop-damaging insects (locusts) that have entered Nepal from African countries through India have spread to many districts of Nepal. According to the entomologist, the locust swarms that have entered Nepal at an average of 8 to 9 million are spreading even though they are widespread. Due to the change in wind speed, the locusts had entered Nepal from India via Nijgadh last Saturday. The locusts have reached 52 districts by Wednesday.

Samundralal Joshi, a member of the technical task force formed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development for the study of locust insects and an entomologist, said that there was no danger of causing major damage as the locusts entering Nepal were being divided. He also said that there is still a possibility of more groups entering from India as other groups are coming near Nepal's border. He says that it is not true that locusts live in Nepal as they need desert to survive. "Either they have to go back to where they had came from, or they will die. It is unlikely to flourish in Nepal," said Joshi.