Odisha govt to use drones to spray insecticides on locusts

Exercising precaution for a likely locust invasion, the Odisha Government has authorised the use of drones to spray insecticides in remote and unattainable regions of the state. Pawan Kumar Agarwal, the Vice-Chancellor of the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), announced that control rooms have been set by the state government to coordinate and undertake the locust menace in the state.

“Control rooms in Bhubaneswar and all districts have been set up to coordinate efforts for combating locusts menace. The Government will use drones to spray insecticides in remote or difficult areas,” said the Vice-Chancellor. “If locusts swarms enter Odisha, they may damage crops in western Odisha because after that monsoon will reach the state and affect locusts` movement,” he added.