CHARIKAR CITY (SW) – Farmers in Parwan province are increasingly worried about the attacks of harmful insects that are damaging their crops.
According to global statistics, over 10,000 species of insects are classified as human adversaries, consuming one-sixth of the world’s food production. The crops harvested by farmers are often what remains after these pests have taken their share.
While many insects are not harmful and even beneficial to agriculture, the situation in Parwan has become dire due to the presence of destructive insects in farmlands and orchards.
Gul Padshah Jalili, a 65-year-old farmer from central Parwan with approximately 45 jeribs of farmland, expressed his frustration with the lack of support from local authorities. “A type of ant eats potatoes and dries up the plants; it devalues them in the market. Beans, eggplants, peppers – everything is affected the same way. These pests have ruined our crops and fruit trees. We need specific pesticides from the authorities to protect our farming,” he plead.
Murad Ali, another farmer from the Ghorband valley in Parwan, shared similar concerns. He noted that pests like locusts and crickets destroy a significant portion of their crops despite using multiple types of pesticides. “We used four types of pesticides, but none were effective. Locusts and crickets are ruining about one-third of our crops. The agricultur institutions need to provide training and support to help us combat these pests,” he urges.
Sayed Ahmad Malekzada, a professor at the Faculty of Agriculture at Parwan University, explains that both mechanical and chemical methods can be used to control agricultural pests. He emphasized that farmers can primarily use mechanical methods to protect their crops, calling on local authorities to assist farmers and regulate the quality of chemical pesticides in the market.
Niaz Mohammad Tayib, Director of Agricultural Affairs at the Parwan Directorate of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock, acknowledges the farmers’ concerns but cites a lack of budget as a major obstacle.
“The presence of harmful insects is due to environmental conditions and the overuse of pesticides. The Plant Protection Management provides technical advice and organizes mobile plant clinics, but unfortunately, we lack sufficient resources,” he said.
Experts suggest that if concerned officials work on identifying and scientifically addressing the issues of these pests, farmers can be protected leading to significantly improved crop yields.
