Farmers in Kashk-i-Robat Sangi, Koshk-e Kohneh, and Pashtun Zarghun districts of Herat province are expressing concern about the recent locust infestation on their farmlands. They report that the province is facing an unprecedented locust attack. The farmers emphasize their inability to tackle this plague alone and call for assistance from governmental entities under Taliban control and international relief organizations.
Some farmers in Herat province are deeply concerned about the unprecedented invasion of locusts on their farmlands. They state that over the past week, they have been unable to cope with the onslaught of locusts on their fields, and no pesticides have been made available to them to eliminate this pest.
However, the Taliban have stated that they have initiated a campaign against locusts in the Kashk-i-Robat Sangi district.
On the other hand, some farmers in the districts of Koshk-e Kohneh and Pashtun Zarghun say that no plan has been considered yet to combat locusts in these two districts.
Farmers in Herat say that despite the happiness from recent rains, the locust invasion has worried them.
Mohammad Omar, a resident of Kashk-i-Robat Sangi district, says that after years, they have witnessed a massive wave of rains. He states that the recent rains had given farmers hope of escaping drought, but the locust invasion on their farms has turned their joy into sorrow.
Mohammad Omar further explains, “Locusts have been decimating crops for a week now. Initially, I couldn’t locate any pesticides to spray the fields. Additionally, despite enduring drought and economic hardships, there hasn’t been any improvement for the working class and farmers. After a week, the Taliban provided only a few pesticides, but we’re still responsible for the spraying ourselves.”
On the other hand, farmers in the Koshk-e Kohneh district of Herat say that locusts have also attacked the fields in this district, and they are unable to cope. According to farmers, the Taliban’s Directorate of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock in Herat has not launched any campaign to combat locusts in this district.
Noor Al-haq, one of the farmers in the Koshk-e Kohneh district of Herat, says, “We cannot address the issue ourselves. We could handle it if it were just 10 or 20 acres of land, but the majority of the land in Koshk-e Kohneh has been overrun by locusts. We approached the district authorities, expressing the disappearance of our crops and agriculture and urging them to take action. However, the Taliban has yet to devise a plan to eradicate the locusts.”
Meanwhile, farmers in Pashtun Zarghun district express concern over the locust invasion and accuse the Taliban of incompetence and laziness. They say that so far, the Taliban have not taken any action plan to combat locusts in this district.
Abdul Al Waseh, a farmer from Pashtun Zarghun district, reports, “Our farming has been affected by the locust plague for the past three to four days. We lack pesticides or medicines, and we can’t find any. Every day, we travel to the district as instructed by the Taliban to come from Herat for spraying, but it’s in vain. Locusts continue to ruin our crops, and no help arrives.”
The Taliban’s Directorate of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock in Herat confirms that locusts have attacked the fields in the districts of Kashk-i-Robat Sangi, Koshk-e Kohneh, and Pashtun Zarghun. Although they have spoken about initiating a campaign against locusts from the beginning, it is observed that only the campaign against locusts has begun in Kashk-i-Robat Sangi district, and no decision has been made yet regarding the districts of Koshk-e Kohneh and Pashtun Zarghun by the Taliban.
This comes as every year, with the beginning of the spring season, several provinces of the country witness locust invasions on farmlands. Last year, Badghis province witnessed a locust invasion of farmlands, and farmers in this province also complained about the lack of cooperation from the Taliban in this regard.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
هجوم ملخها بر مزارع در هرات؛ کشاورزان خواستار همکاری سازمانهای جهانی شدند