AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

LOCUSTS

Locusts visited the district sometimes, though they did not cause much damage. The specie found is Orthacanthacris succinta Linn which is probably indigenous to a great part of the Western Ghats and the Satpudas from which, when favourable circumstances encourage their development, the flying locusts sally forth to the adjoining table-land of the Deccan.

1869.

Locusts made their appearance in 1869 which is the oldest record available. In that year, a large congregation of locusts crossed the district from north to south.

1873-1878.

In 1878, they did much injury to the late crops.

1882.

In 1882, a part of the district was seriously affected but rabi crops were left undamaged; rewards and remissions were made.

1883.

In 1883 also, rewards and remissions had to be made on this account.

1890-91.

In 1890-91 the flights of the locusts passed rapidly from place to place so that the total damage was spread over too wide an area to be much felt in any one district.

1993.

In the present century, they appeared in the district in July, 1903 in small swarms, but did little damage. They reappeared in September and October, and left the district after causing much injury to the crops.

1904.

In the beginning of April, 1904 locusts were reported from Shola-pur. which rapidly entered the district. By 30th April, the district was generally infested. After the rains broke, the locusts laid eggs in enormous number. Hoppers appeared towards the end of July. They were fortunately confined to forest regions where cultivation was scanty. Thcv lived in grass lands and attacked the coarse millets and rice of the forest tribes. The aborigines readily took part in the destruction of locusts and. from the rewards granted by Government for this work, received compensation for the loss of their crops. By the end of October, the hoppers began to assume wings and to invade the plains; but. the kharip harvest was shortly reaped and suffered little damage. Parasites were observed to be attacking the swarms in November and in December, the locusts appeared to have migrated southwards. From some cause, their number had largely diminished in March and April, while in previous years they had issued forth and migrated northwards and eastwards, the swarms were few in number and small in size. They were reported to have damaged sugarcane and garden crops.

1928-29.

In 1928-29, locusts were observed in about 45 villages in Yawal Taluka and affected the standing crops. Suspension of land revenue to the extent of Rs. 20,275 had to be made.

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