Govt weighs use of drones, planes to bring down locust swarms

“A committee under the chairmanship of the Additional Secretary of the Department has been constituted to procure services and goods for spraying insecticides through drones and airplanes,” the ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

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With swarms of immature locusts sweeping across 13 districts in four states, the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare is considering the use of aircraft for spraying insecticides to control the spread of the crop-devouring insects.

“A committee under the chairmanship of the Additional Secretary of the Department has been constituted to procure services and goods for spraying insecticides through drones and airplanes,” the ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

The statement said: “Drones will be used to spray pesticides on tall trees and inaccessible places for effective control of locusts, while plans are afoot to deploy helicopters for aerial spray.”