FEROZKOH (Pajhwok): Farmers in western Ghor province have expressed concern over a widespread stink bug infestation affecting wheat and barley fields, warning that significant crop losses could occur if urgent measures are not taken.
Meanwhile, agriculture officials say efforts to control the pest have begun and technical teams have been deployed to affected areas.
As the morning sun spread across the wheat fields, Abdullah, like every other day, headed to his farmland. This time, however, he was not checking on the progress of his crops but assessing the damage caused by the infestation.
The 38-year-old farmer from Al-Farooq district held a wheat ear in his hand and pointed to the stink bugs feeding on it. He said he had cultivated more than 10 acres of of rain-fed wheat.
“This land is my only hope,” he said. “If this infestation spreads further, I do not know how I will provide for my family because our entire annual harvest could be lost.”
Abdullah said he was unable to tackle the infestation on his own and warned that a large portion of his crops would be destroyed unless agriculture officials and relevant organisations intervened.
“I cannot afford pesticides or other means to stop these insects,” he said. “Most farmers are poor like me. If the government does not assist us, our fields will be ruined.”
Another resident of Al-Farooq district, Sardar Dadfar, said the pest had affected farmland in Fayaq, Tagab, Posht-i-Koh Shuyij and several other areas.
“The infestation has spread widely across wheat fields in recent days,” he said. “If control measures are not taken soon, much of the wheat and barley harvest will be destroyed and farmers will suffer heavy losses.”
Similarly, Mohammad Yousuf, a resident of Charsadda district, said farmers lacked sufficient resources to combat the infestation.
“If action is not taken in time, a large portion of the harvest will be lost,” he warned.
Reports of the pest spreading across different parts of Ghor have increased in recent days.
Officials from the provincial Department of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock confirmed the infestation was no longer confined to a single area and had also been detected in Allahyar, Al-Farooq, Murghab, Shahrak, Tolak and Charsadda districts.
Zia-ul-Haq Joya, spokesman for the department, said the pest had damaged agricultural land, particularly wheat crops.
He said the department had distributed pest-control traps and limited quantities of pesticides to farmers using available resources, but acknowledged the supplies were insufficient.
Despite the shortages, technical teams have been dispatched to affected areas and farmers have been provided with guidance on controlling the infestation.
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