Pongopal (Locusts) fear that the invasion of locusts may also occur in Bangladesh after some African countries have invaded Pakistan and last India, according to the Department of Agriculture Extension. But that risk is higher next year than this year.
What are Pongopal (পঙ্গপাল) Locusts
Pongopal (পঙ্গপাল) Locusts known as English, locust is available to agricultural departments and botanists of different countries. Its name is an insect in Bengal, it is a short-horned grasshopper.
The locust is essentially a type of insect. It is a special species of small horns in the Acrididae family that has stages of life cycle or jumping. These insects are usually alone. But in special cases, they gather together. Then their behavior and habits changed and become gregarious. There is no differential taxonomy between locusts and grasshoppers. The key difference is the distinct tendency of their species to meet in particular conditions.
The inch-long insect flies with a large number of members of its species for food.
Why Pongopal dangerous?
When locusts invade crop fields, it becomes a regular nightmare for a farmer. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) says one square kilometer of locust eat with food, It is possible to feed 35,000 people a year.
- An elderly locust can feed on its weight every day.
- In the area they attack, they do not move to another area until the food is finished.
- According to botanists, insects are quite harmless animals if left alone, but they become destructive when grouped.
- A large locust can eat up to 120 miles of crop a day.
- Not only do they eat the food, but they also work the reproduction.
- A flock of 10 lakh insects of the new type of locust, One thousand people can eat food in a day.
What is the History of Pongopal (Locusts)
Pakistan was heavily attacked by locusts in 1993. The move marked the first locust attack in Pakistan in March 2019. Later it spread over an area of 900,000 hectares in Sindh, southern Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. Crops and plants worth crores of rupees were damaged.
Locusts (Pongopal) are attacking agricultural fields in several countries including Africa, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya late last year, causing farmers in those countries to suffer severe losses.
However, in that region locust attacks occur at regular intervals.
The locust, as a United Nations, damage to the crops worth the US $ 250 million in West Africa during the period 2003-5.
Outside India and Pakistan, Saudi Arabia has also been under attack by locusts. Local media say the attack on the worm has created a dire situation for those in the country’s agricultural sector.
Pongopal in Bangladesh
The locusts Pongoppal may also come to Bangladesh after Pakistan and India. But there is no risk this year, but be careful for next year.
Since the characteristics of locusts are the movement of the air according to the speed of the air and they search for a new place when the food is ready for one place, the fears of the Department of Agriculture may also invade Bangladesh. During the last five years, locusts did not invade the area.
Since the swarm of the insect comes from the desert area, officials of the Department of Agriculture believe that the risk of invasion of Bangladesh will be high in the dry and drought-prone areas of the country.
How to prevent locust (Pongopal) Infestation
The use of pesticides in the air or on the ground is the control of locusts. However, the horrors of locusts in Africa are not the only result of pesticide use, UN experts say. Therefore, the organization has called on the international community to come forward to deal with the situation.
Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Mr. Jahan says no effective method has been discovered so far to prevent locust infestation.
Reference:
- BBC
- FAO of the United Nation
- Bangla Tribune
- Wikipedia
- DAE
All Update BD News In Banglades to Know Here.
