Pest infestations and crop diseases threaten agriculture in western Afghanistan

Pest infestations and crop diseases threaten agriculture in western Afghanistan

HERAT — A growing number of farmers in Herat province say their crops and orchards are under severe threat due to the lack of pesticides and plant disease treatments, raising alarm over the future of agriculture in one of Afghanistan’s key farming regions. Farmers described a steep decline in yields, saying the absence of basic agricultural inputs has left their fields vulnerable to insects, fungal infections, and viral plant diseases. Mullah Si…