Expert task force formed to tackle litchi stink bug damage in Bihar
On 7 May 2026, on Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's direction, ICAR's National Research Centre on Litchi, Muzaffarpur, set up an expert task force to study damage to litchi crops in Bihar by the litchi stink bug and report within a week.
Summary
An expert task force on the damage caused to litchi crops in Bihar by the litchi stink bug was constituted by an order of ICAR's National Research Centre on Litchi, Muzaffarpur, on 7 May 2026, on the direction of Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Farmers raised the problem with the Minister at a farmer interaction at the Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, Lucknow, on 7 May. Chaired by the Director of the National Research Centre on Litchi, the panel of scientists, officials and experts will visit affected areas, study crop losses, suggest immediate and long-term measures and advisories, and report within a week.
Key facts
- Pest
- Litchi stink bug damaging litchi crops in Bihar
- Order
- 7 May 2026, ICAR-National Research Centre on Litchi, Muzaffarpur
- Chair
- Director, NRC on Litchi, Muzaffarpur
- Trigger
- Farmers' complaint at CISH, Lucknow, 7 May 2026
- Deadline
- Report within a week
Practice MCQs 2 questions
Which pest prompted the formation of an expert task force for litchi crops in Bihar in May 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Litchi stink bug
The task force was set up to study damage to litchi crops caused by the litchi stink bug.
Who chairs the expert task force on the litchi stink bug set up in May 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Director, ICAR-National Research Centre on Litchi, Muzaffarpur
The Director of the National Research Centre on Litchi, Muzaffarpur, was appointed chairperson; the issue was raised at CISH, Lucknow.