FAO Warns of Locust Swarms Threatening Northern Afghanistan’s Agriculture

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations warned of the threat of increased locust swarms in the fertile regions of northern Afghanistan.

The organization added that the agricultural lands in northern Afghanistan have faced locust swarms for the second consecutive year.

Richard Trenchard, the FAO representative in Afghanistan, said: “This, [standing in a fertile area] just two or three days ago, was a wheat field with wheat growing well, and now, the locusts, they’ve just taken everything. This is a family’s food, a family’s income for the next few months, and it’s just gone. ”

Trenchard emphasized that more efforts need to be made to address the locust swarms in the agricultural lands.

He added: “The Moroccan locust is one of the world’s greatest threats to plants. And this is why it’s so, so important that the Ministry of Agriculture here is launching an enormous campaign here to rid of the north of Afghanistan, Afghanistan’s breakfast, of this incredible threat now.”

Some farmers said their crops have been destroyed due to the locust swarms.

“Look, from the side where I planted, the locusts have started eating, and nothing is left. If they eat the leaves, it is now their season, and nothing will remain for us,” said Mohammad Ibrahim, a farmer.

This farmer also urged aid organizations and authorities to cooperate with him to prevent further destruction of his cultivated land.

He told TOLOnews: “I have 20 acres of cultivated land here. 11 acres are destroyed, and 9 acres are left. I had planted wheat. If the season passes, how can I support my family?”

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Afghanistan is currently a poor country and due to the negative impact on the economy, more than 28 million people in Afghanistan rely on international aid to survive.