DUSHANBE
, July 17, Asia-Plus – The next locust infestation is expected in
Tajikistan
next year, Minister of Agriculture Voris Madaminov remarked at a briefing in
Dushanbe
on Friday [July 14].
He reminded that swarms of locusts had destroyed thousands of hectares of farmland in southern and northern regions of
Tajikistan
this year.
“Due to efforts of local specialists a small part of these pests has been destroyed,” said the minister, “We have not had enough chemicals for fully completing the pests.”
Mr. Madaminov noted that the ministry had not be ready for the locust infestation this year, “and US$1 million provided by the government for purchasing pesticides have not had been enough for full destruction of the pests.”
According to him, it is impossible to assess an actual volume of damage caused to locusts to the country’s agrarian sector. “However, it has already been established, that locusts have affected 55,000 hectares of farmland in the country this year; of them, only 22,000 hectares have been treated by chemicals.”
“International organizations are offering their assistance in curbing this problem, but we have to be able to tackle this problem unaided,” Madaminov added.
We will recall that thousands of hectares of farmland in Khuroson, Vakhsh, Zafarobod, and Rudaki districts have been affected by Moroccan locusts this year. But the problem of locusts is not confined to
Tajikistan
alone and indeed, is fast becoming a regional concern, according to local experts. According to them, locusts flew to
Tajikistan
from
Afghanistan
and
Uzbekistan
.
