Locust infestation threatens food security

The UN's Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) has warned of a devastating locust infestation in southern Tajikistan. "It has already started in the southern regions, especially Pyandhz, where 3,000 hectares have been infested, and of these 1,500 hectares were treated as of 5 May," the national programme assistant for FAO, Artem Phashenko, told IRIN from the Tajik capital, Dushanbe, on Friday. The country is prone to locust infestations, and this year FAO plans to treat 72,000 ha of land, costing US $340,000 under a 16-month programme for 2003. An FAO statement said the objective of the project was to provide urgent assistance to the Tajik government to control the expected locust outbreak, thereby to reduce damage to crops during the agricultural season. This is with a view to safeguarding the food security of some 12,250 of the most vulnerable households and farming units. The project will also support the preparation of the 2004 locust campaign in order to decrease the numbers of the next locust generation and help re-establish sustainable monitoring and control. "The infestation is less compared to last year," Phashenko said, adding that farmers were better prepared this time. "They have equipment and pesticides to deal with it." In addition to the southern Pyandhz area, the districts of Ghozimalik and Kolkhozabad in Khatlon Province have also been affected. FAO has so far surveyed 24,900 ha country-wide to determine the extent of the problem and found that 6,450 ha have been infested. Of that figure some 2,300 ha have been treated. The last locust infestation in Tajikistan was in 2002 and is expected to reoccur every four to five years. At that time FAO developed a programme and delivered chemicals and equipment to the affected areas. But Moroccan locusts continue to eat away the pastures in the north and south of the country. Up to 1990, locust control in Tajikistan was carried out with resources made available by the Soviet Union. However, following the break-up of the Soviet Union and the declaration of independence by Tajikistan, the measures available have been limited during a period of civil war and further serious economic difficulties. Last year, the districts of Shahrtuz, Qabodiyon, Qumsangir and Tursunzoda in the south and Matcha, Djabor Rasulov, Now and Zaffarabad in the north, along with some areas in the central region were affected. A total of 72,100 ha were infested in 2002, according to a national survey, of which only 11,100 ha were treated.