Pests proliferation in N. Darfur

On Sunday 9 September, the North Darfur Minister of Agriculture and Forestry warned about the proliferation of pests in a number of localities in the state. He pointed out the problem is caused by the recent rains and that the state is not able to successfully combat the pests. Minister Issa Mohammed Abdalla explained to the Sudan News Agency (SUNA) that his Ministry is currently suffering from lack of ground spray tools, key to combating the problem. He said that the amount of sprays available is rather small when compared to what is required to keep the situation under control. The Minister said the following localities are affected by pests: Allaiat (rats), Kabkabiya (locust), Kalamindou and Kumah (watermelon bugs), Umbru and Tawila (insects) and Saraf Umra (birds). Minister Abdalla attributed the pests’ problem in several North Darfur localities to the recent rainfall in the area. He told SUNA that the amount of weeds increased due to recent heavy rains, attracting more insects, rats and birds. Abdalla explained that in order to remove the weeds, expensive tractors would be necessary.According to SUNA, the Minister added that the weeds hinder plantations from growing and that this is causing serious constraints to the current crop season in North Darfur. He also said there is a lack of manpower to remove the weeds and that the laborers available are very expensive. The Minister said the localities affected by the crops’ problems are: Allaiat, Dar Al-Salaam, Kumah, Um Kaddadah and Al-Twaishah.