Afghanistan is facing a severe crisis as a locust plague descends upon the country, threatening its agricultural sector and intensifying the already dire food insecurity situation. The United Nations has issued a warning, stating that the potential loss of 1.2mn tonnes of wheat and estimated damages of up to $480mn could have grave consequences for the nation, Aljazeera reports.
In northern Afghanistan, particularly in the village of Kandali in the Balkh province, crops are being overrun by 100,000 locusts. The grey insects have amassed on a fallow wheat field.
After feasting on the harvest, they laid eggs to hatch a new one the next spring, continuing a cycle of destruction in a nation where nine in 10 families already struggle to afford food.
"They eat everything that is green: wheat, peas, sesame" Baz Mohammad, the representative of Kandali village said.
Desperate farmers used nets to sweep up the plague of Moroccan locusts - one of the world's most voracious pests - before burying them in trenches. However, their efforts have not been successful, as the locust population continues to multiply.
"We walk with hungry stomachs to kill the locusts. If we don't kill them, our agriculture will be ruined," Mohammad said.
The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warns that this year's locust outbreak could result in the destruction of 1.2mn tonnes of wheat, which accounts for a quarter of the annual harvest. This would lead to an estimated loss of $480mn.
The country is already grappling with its third consecutive year of drought, with no rainfall reported in Kandali since March, which could have helped eliminate the locusts.
Richard Trenchard, the FAO representative in Afghanistan, expressed concern about the potential consequences of the locust plague.
"Harvest forecasts this year are the best we have seen for the last three years. But this outbreak threatens to destroy all these recent gains and dramatically worsen the food insecurity situation later this year and into next year" he stated.
The FAO attributes the perfect conditions for the locust plague to factors such as overgrazing, drought, and limited control measures. The agency also highlighted that Afghanistan's previous major infestations, occurring 20 and 40 years ago, resulted in significant losses of agricultural production, estimated at 8% and 25%, respectively.
Efforts to control the locust population have been hampered by limited resources. Sifatullah Azizi, the head of locust control at the provincial agricultural ministry, mentioned that 7,000 hectares of land have been treated chemically and manually. However, these measures are insufficient.
"We have acted within our means. To eradicate them, you need a budget, to hire workers, pay for fuel, products" Azizi explained.
The economic challenges faced by Afghanistan further complicate the situation. Following the Taliban's takeover in August 2021, the country experienced a reduction in international aid, resulting in a battered economy. Economic output has plummeted, and the latest report from the United Nations Development Programme indicates that nearly 85% of the population lives in poverty.
"Afghanistan used to have a very strong locust control system in place. But this has been heavily eroded in the last two years," Trenchard said.
The consequences of the locust plague could worsen if left untreated. The FAO warns that the population of Moroccan locusts could multiply 100-fold next year if immediate action is not taken.
Farmer Abdul Raqib Kazimi, who provides for sixteen family members, said 60% to 70% of his land has been destroyed, including fodder for cattle. He expressed his concerns;
"We need to feed ourselves. If there is no wheat, there is no flour. I am very worried as these locusts are laying eggs in this area, so next year again it will be out of my control and out of the control of my villagers."
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