Centre Launches Scientific Intervention as Litchi Stink Bug Threatens Bihar’s Litchi Belt

The move comes at a critical time for Bihar’s globally renowned litchi industry, which supports thousands of farmers and contributes significantly to the state’s horticulture economy.

Taking serious cognisance of growing distress among litchi farmers in Bihar, Union Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has ordered an immediate scientific intervention to tackle the rapidly spreading threat of the litchi stink bug, an invasive pest that farmers say is causing extensive damage to crops across major litchi-producing districts.

Responding swiftly to concerns raised directly by farmers, the Union Minister has directed the formation of a high-level expert task force comprising entomologists, agricultural scientists, horticulture experts and government officials to assess the situation on the ground and recommend urgent remedial measures.

The move comes at a critical time for Bihar's globally renowned litchi industry, which supports thousands of farmers and contributes significantly to the state's horticulture economy.

Farmers Raised Alarm During Interaction with Union Minister

The issue came to the forefront during a farmer interaction programme organised on May 7 at the Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture (CISH), Lucknow, where growers informed Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan about the severe impact of the pest infestation on standing litchi crops.

Farmers reported widespread crop damage caused by the litchi stink bug, which attacks fruits and tender plant parts, affecting both productivity and fruit quality.

Taking immediate note of the matter, Shri Chouhan instructed officials to constitute a specialised scientific task force without delay.

Officials said the intervention reflects the Centre's effort to ensure rapid response mechanisms for emerging agricultural threats affecting farmers' livelihoods.

ICAR Constitutes Special Expert Panel

Following the Minister's directions, the National Research Centre on Litchi (NRCL), Muzaffarpur, operating under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), issued an official order on May 7 constituting the task force.

The panel has been mandated to:

• Assess the current spread of the litchi stink bug

• Conduct field visits in affected regions

• Scientifically evaluate crop losses

• Recommend immediate relief measures

• Suggest long-term pest management strategies

• Develop farmer advisories and extension programmes

• Recommend interventions required at state and central levels

According to officials, the team has been asked to submit its findings and recommendations to the Union Agriculture Minister within one week to facilitate timely policy action and field-level intervention.

Bihar's Litchi Economy Under Threat

Bihar is India's leading producer of litchi and is internationally known for its premium-quality Shahi Litchi, particularly from the Muzaffarpur region, which has received Geographical Indication (GI) tag recognition.

The litchi industry is a major source of income for thousands of farmers in districts including:

• Muzaffarpur

• Vaishali

• Samastipur

• East Champaran

• Begusarai

• Bhagalpur

Any large-scale pest attack during the fruiting season can lead to severe economic losses, affecting farmers, traders, transporters and export-linked supply chains.

Agricultural experts warn that unchecked infestation by stink bugs can result in:

• Fruit deformation

• Premature fruit drop

• Reduced market quality

• Lower yields

• Significant financial losses

Multi-Institutional Scientific Team Formed

The expert task force has been constituted with specialists drawn from multiple premier agricultural and horticultural institutions.

The Director of the National Research Centre on Litchi, Muzaffarpur, has been appointed as the chairperson of the panel.

Members include representatives from:

• Bihar State Horticulture Mission

• Bihar Agriculture Department's Plant Protection Division

• Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa

• Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour

• Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)

The panel also includes leading entomology experts such as:

• Dr Jaipal Singh Chaudhary from ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region

• Dr M Sampat Kumar from the National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, Bengaluru

• Dr Ipsita Samal from ICAR-NRCL Muzaffarpur

• Dr Vinod Kumar, Principal Scientist (Entomology), serving as Member Secretary

The multi-disciplinary composition of the team is expected to enable comprehensive scientific assessment and rapid formulation of mitigation strategies.

Field Visits to Begin in Most Affected Districts

According to the official order, the task force will soon begin field visits to the worst-affected litchi-growing blocks across Bihar.

Scientists will study:

• Pest population patterns

• Crop damage intensity

• Climatic factors influencing infestation

• Existing pest management practices

• Farmer-level challenges

The assessment is expected to help formulate region-specific pest management recommendations and integrated control strategies.

Focus on Immediate Relief and Long-Term Pest Management

Officials indicated that the Centre is not only looking at emergency relief measures but also at developing sustainable long-term pest management systems to protect Bihar's litchi ecosystem from future outbreaks.

The recommendations may include:

• Scientific pest surveillance systems

• Integrated pest management (IPM) protocols

• Farmer awareness campaigns

• Biological and eco-friendly pest control methods

• Timely advisory dissemination

• Strengthening horticulture extension services

Experts believe that climate variability and changing ecological conditions are increasingly contributing to the emergence of new pest threats in horticulture crops, making scientific monitoring and rapid-response systems more important than ever.

Government Signals Proactive Agricultural Crisis Response

The rapid constitution of the task force is being viewed as part of the Centre's broader effort to strengthen direct engagement with farmers and ensure faster institutional response to crop-related crises.

Observers note that the intervention highlights the government's growing emphasis on:

• Scientific agriculture

• Climate-resilient farming

• Crop protection systems

• Farmer-centric governance

• Technology-led horticulture management

With Bihar's litchi harvest season underway, the findings of the task force are expected to play a crucial role in determining immediate containment measures and long-term policy support for one of India's most important horticultural crops.