According to the UN, the country, which has been hit by war and climate change, is threatened by a catastrophe: a plague of locusts could destroy the harvest.
Climate change is hitting the world’s poorest countries particularly hard. In Afghanistan, Taliban rule and the long-lasting drought could escalate into another catastrophe: the United Nations warns of one on social media plague of locustswhich could destroy 1.2 million tons of wheat, about a quarter of the harvest.
A widespread outbreak of the plague could dramatically increase food insecurity in the country, the UN said on social media on Thursday. The animals are already in the north and northeast of the country, the “bread basket” Afghanistan’s, been spotted. Richard Trenchard of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) spoke of a “great danger to farmers, communities and the whole country” from the Moroccan migratory locust.
Meanwhile, the FAO, together with local communities and other aid organizations, is trying to initiate countermeasures on the ground. In doing so, they have to use mechanical solutions, since they are far more effective pesticides miss.
Locust plague in Afghanistan: Possibly 100 times more locusts next year
In Afghanistan there are few resources to combat the danger. FAO officer Trenchard reports that people are using outdated methods to protect themselves from the locusts. According to the AND the number of locusts could increase a hundredfold next year if not enough action is taken this year.
“The Moroccan migratory locust eats more than 150 plant species,” says Trenchard. Among them are also 50 crops. According to Trenchard, the last locust plagues 20 and 40 years ago destroyed eight and 25 percent of the crop. A similar magnitude is expected this year.
Afghanistan: Six million people face famine
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN quantifies the worldwide Damage of the Moroccan migratory locust to about $280 to $480 million. This makes it one of the most harmful plant plagues on earth. This year there are “perfect conditions” in northern and northeastern Afghanistan for the insect. overgrazing, drought and little countermeasures would provide an ideal environment for the locusts, according to the organization.
The nutritional situation is in Afghanistan already dramatic. Six million Afghans are already one step away from starvation, the FAO warned earlier this year. According to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres Afghanistan is experiencing the world’s largest humanitarian crisis this year. The renewed seizure of power by the militant Islamist Taliban in 2021 has pushed the already weak economy in the country even further into the abyss. (dpa / os)
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