NEW DELHI — An invasion by swarms of desert locusts has devastated crops in India’s heartland, threatening an already vulnerable region that is struggling with the economic cost of coronavirus lockdown. ADVERTISEMENTThe situation has been particularly grim in central India’s Rajasthan, where millions of locusts have been attacking crops since April. Authorities estimate the insects have engulfed more than 50,000 hectares (123,5000 acres) of agricultural land in seven of India’s heartland states. He said higher than normal temperatures this year have helped locusts spread more rapidly and if not controlled, they can badly hurt India’s food supplies. ADVERTISEMENTLocust attacks have already wreaked pastures and crops across swathes in Africa.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer May 27, 2020 07:24 UTC