India: Horticulture at Risk From Locust Attack
If the attack from swarms of locusts is not curtailed, horticulture production in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra will be impacted, according to a sector report by Motilal Oswal Financial Services. These states cumulatively contribute 38% to India’s 312 million tonnes of horticulture production, reports BusinessWorld.
Vegetables constitute 59% of the production. About 31% of the horticulture production comes from fruits. Summer fruits in India include mango, watermelon, orange, muskmelon, sweet lime, jackfruit, black plum, lychee, pineapple, figs, and ice apple.
“If the locust attack is not curtailed, horticulture production at these states will be impacted. Generally, January to March is the period for the sowing of sugarcane. Any locust attack may impact sugarcane crop in Uttar Pradesh which constitutes 45% to the normal sugarcane sowing area of India,” said the report.
The report said rabi harvest starts in April and ends in May. Thus, farmers currently do not have major standing crops on the field at risk of attack. However, horticulture (fruits and vegetables) crops are at risk of a washout in Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat.
Continue reading at BusinessWorld.
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