QALA-I-NAW (Pajhwok): Farmers in western Badghis province have voiced concern over a growing locust infestation in their farmlands, while the Department of Agriculture has announced the launch of a control campaign.
Nizamuddin, 38, a farmer in Muqur district, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the locust outbreak had intensified and destroyed a large portion of agricultural land.
He said the pests had entered the province from Turkmenistan and caused significant losses to farmers.
“Unfortunately, the locust infestation is very widespread. Around five jeribs of wheat farmland I cultivated have been destroyed,” he said.
He welcomed the launch of the control campaign by the Department of Agriculture and expressed hope that the outbreak would be contained.
Similarly, Ziauddin, another farmer in Sang Atesh district, said the locusts had severely damaged crops in the area.
“Locusts have attacked our fields on an unprecedented scale and destroyed a large part of our produce. If not controlled in time, the losses will increase,” he said.
He also welcomed the campaign and called for its effective implementation.
The Department of Agriculture and Livestock in Badghis confirmed the locust infestation and said in a statement that a control campaign had been launched.
It said specialised teams had been deployed to border areas and the districts of Muqur, Bala Murghab and Sang Atesh, and efforts were underway to control the outbreak.
The department added that the campaign would continue until farmlands were fully cleared of locusts.
Officials said farmers in several districts had previously warned about the increasing locust infestation.
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