The Union Agriculture Ministry on Friday (May 8, 2026) constituted a special expert task force to study the damage caused to litchi crops by the litchi stink bug, a major agricultural pest, in Bihar, and it has been asked to submit a report to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan within a week.

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The task force will also recommend necessary advisories and extension activities for farmers, besides suggesting interventions required at both the State and Central levels, the Ministry said.

In a release, the Ministry said the task force will have representatives nominated by the Director of Horticulture-cum-Bihar State Horticulture Mission, Bihar government, representatives nominated by the Director of Plant Protection, Agriculture Department, Bihar government, a representative nominated by the entomologist of Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, a member nominated by the Principal Scientist (Entomology) of Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur and a representative nominated by the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture. Apart from that, scientists from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources will be members of the task force.

The task force will soon visit the most affected blocks in litchi-producing districts of Bihar. “The team has been asked to submit its report to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan within one week so that necessary action can be taken in a timely manner,” the government said.

Farmers had recently informed Mr. Chouhan about the extensive damage being caused to litchi crops due to the litchi stink bug. According to an order issued on May 7 by the National Research Centre on Litchi, Muzaffarpur, the task force will assess the current situation related to the litchi stink bug, visit affected regions, scientifically study crop losses and suggest both immediate and long-term measures to provide relief to farmers.