TAJIKISTAN: Locust Plague destroyed crops and cotton plantations
Pastor Dale Morgan
*TAJIKISTAN: Locust Plague destroyed crops and cotton plantations*
16 May 2007 14:11:59 GMT
Source: IRIN
DUSHANBE, 16 May 2007 (IRIN) - Locust invasions in Tajikistan in the
past few weeks have destroyed crops and cotton plantations over an area
of almost 45,000 hectares.
According to the Tajik Agriculture Ministry, the southern Khatlon Oblast
is the most affected area. Here 23,350 hectares have been invaded by
locusts. A little over half of the affected area was being treated.
Five central districts and parts of the northern Soghd province have
also been invaded by locusts, ministry officials reported on Tuesday.
The locust invasion was also detected in Rudaki district, just 15km
south of Dushanbe. "If the locusts are not eradicated in Rudaki
district, they may soon attack Dushanbe," Uzarbek Mustafokulov, director
of Tajikistan's plant protection and quarantine institute, told IRIN in
the capital, Dushanbe, on Tuesday.
Drought
Experts say that this year's locust invasion is related to the drought
that has affected the area over the past two years.
The locusts usually concentrate on mountain pastures and forests and
when there is no grass due to drought they migrate and devour
agricultural crops, specialists explained.
International aid
So far the Tajik authorities have managed to treat 20,140 of hectares
affected by locusts but officials say there is a need for international
assistance to fully overcome the current invasions.
"We need to fight locusts every year. All the necessary equipment -
provided by FAO [the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization]
- is available now, but we lack pesticides," Mustafokulov added.
In 2003-2004 FAO provided technical support, equipment and pesticides to
fight the locusts, and also built up the capacity of local farms and
villagers to fight the infestations.
"Usually this is the time of year when locusts invade, but so far FAO
has not provided any financial or technical support. We've applied for
financial assistance and are waiting for a response from donors,"
Vladimir Mogilyov from the FAO office in Tajikistan said.
"There should be a regional project in the Central Asian countries –
Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and neighbouring Afghanistan - to
eradicate it from all sides," Mogilyov said. "In June we are expecting
another locust invasion that is usually brought by the wind from
Afghanistan."
Until Tajikistan became independent in 1991, locust control in the
country was conducted with resources made available by the central
Soviet government. During Soviet times, two mobile locust control teams
operated in the country and also provided services to neighbouring
Afghanistan, Tajik officials said. Following the break-up of the Soviet
Union, locust control measures have slipped back.
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