May, 2020 Issue: 57 India: After COVID-19, India’s next challenge could be mega-sized locust attack this summer

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, India’s response to natural disasters is expected to be tested again this summer when a giant locust storm from the Horn of Africa is expected to attack farmlands in South Asia.

The government while having focus on COVID-19 infections and is also getting ready to respond to locust attack on farms which might be a serious threat to food security.

The worst case scenario of locust attack might be: Starting from the Horn of Africa, and joined by desert locusts from breeding grounds en route, one locust stream can travel over a land corridor passing over , Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Iran, , Pakistan and India, impacting farmlands in Punjab, Haryana and the Indo-Gangetic plain. However, another stream passing over the Indian Ocean can directly attack farms in peninsular India, and then head towards Bangladesh. Together, this can cause a serious food security issue.

The destructive power of a typical locust swarm, which can vary from less than one square kilometre to several hundred square kilometres, is enormous. A one square kilometre swarm, containing about 40 million locusts, can in a day eat as much food as 35,000 people, assuming that each individual consumes 2.3 kg of food per day.

An FAO situation update of April 21 spotlights that desert locusts, which are breeding this spring in East Africa, Yemen and southern Iran, will gravely heighten the threat to food security in the Afro-Asian region.

In Iran, locust swarms could be forming near Jask — a port city on the Gulf of Oman, as well the Sistan- Baluchistan province, bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan, opening two trajectories of movement. In Pakistan, breeding grounds have been detected in Balochistan, the Indus Valley as well as Punjab. Besides, limited breeding has also been spotted near the Indian border.

Most countries combating locust swarms are mainly relying on organophosphate chemicals, which are applied in small concentrated doses by vehicle-mounted and aerial sprayers.

The looming locust attack, which could undermine food security in the Afro-Asian region, follows the economic devastation, and the savaging of incomes, by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source: The Hindu

01 : New bugs could help control major maize pests

The rapid evolution of resistance to chemicals, an increasing organic food market and the negative effects of chemicals on people and the environment has increased the need to control pests biologically. Insect pests, such as maize stemborers and , increasingly challenge food production around the world.

Huge demands for crops have meant agricultural systems have simplified and frequently focused on single crops. When fields are full of a single crop, they can easily be found by their insect pests, as opposed to when the crop is mixed in with others. This might yield in higher losses. Climate change – mostly increased temperatures and changes in rainfall patterns – and wild habitat reduction by farmers has added to this by increasing pest pressure and resurgence.

The rapid evolution of pest resistance to chemicals, an increasing organic food market and the negative effects of chemicals on the health of people and the environment, has increased the need to control insect pests biologically. Biological control uses live organisms to kill or eat the pest . These organisms – called natural enemies or antagonists – are predators, parasites or micro-organisms which can bring disease and death.

Insect are one form of biological control. These are insects which develop as parasites on other , mostly insects, causing their death or sterility. They can target each developmental stage of the insect: eggs, larvae or pupae. They have received increased attention because they are efficient, cheaper and offer a management strategy that safeguards human health and the environment.

Two species of these parasitoids have been discovered by researchers in Kenya. They have found to be efficient biological control agents against two major maize pests: the typhae to control the maize stemborer, Sesamia nonagrioides. This, has become a major pest for maize; and, due to global warming, it’s spreading.

The other major maize pest is the fall armyworm. This invasive species, originally from tropical areas in the Americas, invaded sub-Saharan Africa in 2016. It has now spread to Asia and Australia and has the potential to soon spread in Europe. The the scientists found to control the fall armyworm is Cotesia icipe. It successfully parasitised 45% of fall armyworm. The next phase will focus on developing biological control of the Fall Armyworm in East Africa using Cotesia icipe and other parasitoids.

African countries have faced major maize shortages and billions of dollars’ worth of damage due to the devastation caused by the fall armyworm and the increased cost of pesticide applied. There are other parasitoids that can kill these pests. However, they are not always present in nature.

Understanding the prevalence and effectiveness of these other parasitoids is important. We must ensure that the parasitoids that we will introduce will not interfere with non-target species and other natural enemies present in nature that can already parasitise the targeted pest.

Scientists hope that, within the next two to three years, the discovery of these new parasitoids will be an effective way to control these devastating insect pests.

Source: https://citizen.co.za 02 The rapid evolution of pest resistance to chemicals, an increasing organic food market and the negative effects of chemicals on people and the environment has increased the need to control insect pests biologically. Insect pests, such as maize stemborers and fall armyworm, increasingly challenge food production around the world. Thailand: BAAC aims for coverage of 45.7 million rai Huge demands for crops have meant agricultural systems have simplified and frequently focused on single crops. When fields are full of a single crop, they can easily be found by their insect pests, as opposed to when the crop is mixed in with others. This might yield in higher losses. Climate change – mostly increased temperatures and The state-owned Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) aims for up to 45.7 million rai changes in rainfall patterns – and wild habitat reduction by farmers has added to this by increasing pest pressure (7.31 Million Ha) of rice farmland to be covered by crop insurance for the 2020 season. and resurgence. Rice farmers who are the BAAC’s debtors and who secured loans for plantations can take out crop insurance free The rapid evolution of pest resistance to chemicals, an increasing organic food market and the negative effects as the state subsidized 58 baht per rai and the bank absorbed the remaining 39 baht a rai. For those who are not of chemicals on the health of people and the environment, has increased the need to control insect pests the bank’s customers, they pay crop insurance based on risks. The bank’s non-customer group with farmland in biologically. Biological control uses live organisms to kill or eat the pest insects. These organisms – called low-risk areas are charged 58 baht a rai, medium-risk areas at 210 baht per rai and high-risk areas at 230 baht a natural enemies or antagonists – are predators, parasites or micro-organisms which can bring disease and death. rai, while the government pays 58 baht per rai for them.

Insect parasitoids are one form of biological control. These are insects which develop as parasites on other The scheme covers damage from seven natural disasters: floods, drought, storms, cold, hail, fires and wild arthropods, mostly insects, causing their death or sterility. They can target each developmental stage of the elephants. insect: eggs, larvae or pupae. They have received increased attention because they are efficient, cheaper and offer a management strategy that safeguards human health and the environment. Farmers will receive compensation of 1,260 baht per rai this year in the case of crops damaged by natural disasters and 630 baht per rai in the event of pests and diseases. Two species of these parasitoids have been discovered by researchers in Kenya. They have found to be efficient biological control agents against two major maize pests: the Cotesia typhae to control the maize stemborer, To get higher protection consistent with the volatile climate conditions, the government encourages rice farmers Sesamia nonagrioides. This, has become a major pest for maize; and, due to global warming, it’s spreading. to take out add-up insurance in which premiums are based on the growing area’s risks. The add-up insurance premiums are 24 baht per rai excluding duty stamp and value-added tax for low-risk areas, 48 baht for The other major maize pest is the fall armyworm. This invasive species, originally from tropical areas in the medium-risk ones and 101 baht for high-risk areas. Rice growers who take out the add-up insurance will receive Americas, invaded sub-Saharan Africa in 2016. It has now spread to Asia and Australia and has the potential to additional compensation of 240 baht per rai in cases where damage results from natural disasters and 120 baht soon spread in Europe. The parasitoid the scientists found to control the fall armyworm is Cotesia icipe. It per rai in the event of pests and diseases. successfully parasitised 45% of fall armyworm. The next phase will focus on developing biological control of the Fall Armyworm in East Africa using Cotesia icipe and other parasitoids. Some 1.9 million farmers took out crop insurance for the last crop year to provide coverage for 28.2 million rai of farmland, compared with 27.6 million in the previous year. Insurance premiums for the 2019 crop year African countries have faced major maize shortages and billions of dollars’ worth of damage due to the amounted to 2.58 billion baht (around USD 80 Million), up from 2.48 billion baht (USD 76.88 Million) a year devastation caused by the fall armyworm and the increased cost of pesticide applied. There are other parasitoids earlier. that can kill these pests. However, they are not always present in nature. Moreover, 90,000 farmers took out crop insurance for more than 15 rai, for which the government provided Understanding the prevalence and effectiveness of these other parasitoids is important. We must ensure that the subsidy. The incremental area totaled 1.3 million rai of farmland. parasitoids that we will introduce will not interfere with non-target Lepidoptera species and other natural enemies present in nature that can already parasitise the targeted pest. Exchange Rate: 1 Rai = 0.16 Ha| 1 Thai Baht = 0.031 USD

Scientists hope that, within the next two to three years, the discovery of these new parasitoids will be an effective Source: https://www.bangkokpost.com way to control these devastating insect pests.

Source: https://citizen.co.za 03 Georgia: Farmers to have access to three-year agricultural insurance

The Agriculture and Rural Development Agency has announced farmers will now be able to insure their perennial plants for up to three years and annual plants for one year with the help of a state agricultural insurance The state-owned Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) aims for up to 45.7 million rai programme. (7.31 Million Ha) of rice farmland to be covered by crop insurance for the 2020 season. The government will finance 70 % of the insurance premium, while the remaining 30 % will be covered by Rice farmers who are the BAAC’s debtors and who secured loans for plantations can take out crop insurance free farmers. Grasper farmers will be able to rely on the government for co-financing of 50 % of the insurance as the state subsidized 58 baht per rai and the bank absorbed the remaining 39 baht a rai. For those who are not premium. the bank’s customers, they pay crop insurance based on risks. The bank’s non-customer group with farmland in low-risk areas are charged 58 baht a rai, medium-risk areas at 210 baht per rai and high-risk areas at 230 baht a The agricultural insurance programme went into force on September 1, 2014 and is meant to develop the rai, while the government pays 58 baht per rai for them. insurance market in the agricultural sector, promote agricultural activities, retain income for individuals who are employed in the agricultural sector and reduce risks associated therein. Farmers can purchase insurance to avoid The scheme covers damage from seven natural disasters: floods, drought, storms, cold, hail, fires and wild the following insurance risks: hail, flood, storm and autumn frost. elephants. Until 2014, there was no mechanism by which farmers could protect their crops from climatic risks. Under the Farmers will receive compensation of 1,260 baht per rai this year in the case of crops damaged by natural agricultural insurance program, insurance has become available to those farmers who have a small farm and need disasters and 630 baht per rai in the event of pests and diseases. state support the most. From 2014 to date, the reimbursed damage to farmers over the past six years has amounted to 38,252,017 GEL (USD 11,858, 625), according to the Agriculture and Rural Development Agency. To get higher protection consistent with the volatile climate conditions, the government encourages rice farmers to take out add-up insurance in which premiums are based on the growing area’s risks. The add-up insurance Individuals and legal entities which own agricultural land no larger than five hectares (if wheat, then no larger premiums are 24 baht per rai excluding duty stamp and value-added tax for low-risk areas, 48 baht for than 30 hectares) can subscribe to the programme. This restriction does not apply to agricultural cooperatives. medium-risk ones and 101 baht for high-risk areas. Rice growers who take out the add-up insurance will receive However, for agricultural cooperatives, the premium share paid by the Agriculture and Rural Development additional compensation of 240 baht per rai in cases where damage results from natural disasters and 120 baht Agency should not exceed 50,000 GEL (USD 15,500). per rai in the event of pests and diseases. The insurance comes into force after the insured person pays their share of the insurance premium. When Some 1.9 million farmers took out crop insurance for the last crop year to provide coverage for 28.2 million rai insuring perennial plants, the insured person should pay their share of the insurance premium to insure plants of of farmland, compared with 27.6 million in the previous year. Insurance premiums for the 2019 crop year the next year until December 31 of the ongoing year. amounted to 2.58 billion baht (around USD 80 Million), up from 2.48 billion baht (USD 76.88 Million) a year earlier. The insurance can be used for crops grown on land, which is registered in the National Agency of Public Registry. Moreover, 90,000 farmers took out crop insurance for more than 15 rai, for which the government provided subsidy. The incremental area totaled 1.3 million rai of farmland. Source: https://www.agenda.ge

Exchange Rate: 1 Rai = 0.16 Ha| 1 Thai Baht = 0.031 USD For more details email us at [email protected] Source: https://www.bangkokpost.com Address: J. B. Boda Insurance & Reinsurance Brokers Pvt. Ltd. Maker Bhavan No. 1, Sir. Vithaldas Thackersey Marg, Mumbai 400 020, India | Phone :+91-22-6631 4949 www.jbboda.net | www.linkedin.com/company/jb-boda | www.facebook.com/jbboda