The Afghanistan Women’s Dawn Organization expresses its deep concern regarding the widespread outbreak of a harmful plant pest affecting orchards and agricultural lands across Ghor Province. According to reports from local communities and observations from affected areas, this pest has spread rapidly and poses a serious threat to fruit trees, agricultural production, and the livelihoods of thousands of farming families.
Ghor is a mountainous province whose population already faces numerous challenges, including poverty, limited access to resources, recurrent droughts, devastating floods, and other natural disasters. Under these difficult circumstances, the continued spread of this pest could cause severe damage to orchards and crops, resulting in significant economic losses and further undermining food security in the region.
The Afghanistan Women’s Dawn Organization respectfully calls upon the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, provincial agricultural authorities, national environmental institutions, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), international humanitarian and development agencies, and all relevant national and international stakeholders to take immediate action by:
- Deploying technical and entomological experts to assess the affected areas;
- Conducting scientific identification and evaluation of the pest and its potential impact;
- Implementing urgent pest control and management measures;
- Providing farmers and orchard owners with the necessary materials, equipment, and technical support to protect their crops and trees;
- Organizing awareness and training programs on effective pest prevention and control methods.
Timely intervention is essential to prevent further losses, protect agricultural livelihoods, and strengthen the resilience of vulnerable communities in Ghor Province.
We urge all responsible authorities and development partners to treat this issue as an urgent priority and to provide the necessary technical and financial assistance as soon as possible.
Respectfully,
Afghanistan Women’s Dawn Organization (AWDO)
Ghor Province, Afghanistan
June 2026
