UN helps protect Afghan crops in face of worst locust plague in living memory
A major threat to food production in northern Afghanistan has been averted thanks to a successful locust control campaign coordinated by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in the face of the worst outbreak in living memory, the agency reported today.
A major threat to food production in northern Afghanistan has been averted thanks to a successful locust control campaign coordinated by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in the face of the worst outbreak in living memory, the agency reported today.
Damage to the wheat crop was kept to a minimum although a survey of locust egg beds in 2002 indicated that over 400,000 hectares of rain-fed wheat and more than 190,000 hectares of irrigated wheat were at risk. The campaign treated over 123,000 hectares of locust infestations mainly with conventional pesticides.
For the first time in Afghanistan, some areas were controlled with an insect growth regulator in an effort to introduce more environmentally friendly methods. FAO provided spraying equipment, protective clothing and training, together with two international and five national consultants.
The Irish non-governmental organization GOAL supported nine provincial coordinators, 11 supervisors and 117 local organizers who led trained spray teams, each of approximately 10 local people. GOAL also provided transport and logistical support.
The current outbreak began in 2001.