Outbreak of Moroccan locusts will destroy 25% of annual wheat production in Afghanistan
Wheat
Afghanistan
Published May 13, 2023
Tridge summary
Left untreated, locust population can increase 100 times next year.
Original content
The ‘large-scale’ outbreak of the Moroccan locust across eight provinces in Afghanistan’s wheat basket is likely to destroy 700,000-1.2 million tonnes of wheat or a quarter of the total annual harvest, alerted the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United States May 10, 2023 This translates to $280 million-$480 million in economic losses — as of today’s prices in the country, stated FAO. Under such circumstances, if the Moroccan locust population is left untreated, its population can increase a 100 times in the next year, the FAO said. This will create even bigger problems for agriculture and food security for Afghanistan and that of its neighbours Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Locusts at different development stages have been sighted at Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Kunduz, Samangan, Sar-e-Pul and Takhar. The Moroccan locusts have been sighted at Herat and Ghor provinces too. Moroccan locusts are the most economically damaging plant pests anywhere ...
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