Anti-locust campaign starts in farmlands

KABUL (TOLOnews): The Afghan Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock reported the start of a campaign against locusts and natural pests in the agricultural lands of the northeast zone.
A mobile team from this ministry, which has gone to Takhar province, said that this year, 11 provinces of the country are at risk of locust invasion.
“Almost 11 provinces of the country are under locust invasion… Alhamdulillah we started yesterday in Baghlan, and the program has also started in Kunduz and Takhar,” said Marjan Hemat, an official in the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation.
The Department of Agriculture and Irrigation in Takhar said that they have started the process of distributing 3,000 liters of anti-locust treatment in 8 districts of the province.
“Alhamdulillah, today we distributed approximately 3,000 liters of treatment in 8 districts of Takhar, which are currently loaded on trucks and heading towards the districts to start work,” said Rahimullah Ahadi, the head of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock in Takhar.
Several farmers in Takhar say that last year’s locust invasion damaged their agricultural lands, and they find the start of this year’s campaign against this insect effective in protecting their crops.
Bay Mohammad, a farmer, said: “Last year, locusts came from Tajikistan towards Kokcha and the districts of Khwaja Ghar and Dashti Qala, causing ninety percent damage to the farmers.”
Ehsan, another farmer, said: “It is very good that the treatment is applied in advance, currently no presence has been found in our areas, but in the Pul-e Begim area, there is a lot.”
Last year, Moroccan locusts from Tajikistan invaded parts of the agricultural lands in the northeastern provinces of the country, causing damage to the farmers’ produce.