Peak of a ten-to-twelve year cycle: Moroccan locusts.
Earlier this month, IWPR reported that Tajikistan's efforts against the current anti-locust plague was proving to be only partly successful. 55,000 hectares of grainland has been treated with pesticide, but lacks of equipment have made the effort less than what is needed. The locusts migrate from Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. Tajikistan's infestation is wider than officially acknowledged, affecting grain, cash, and vegetable crops.
Kyrgyzstan has also been battling locusts and is reporting success. According to Reuters, agricultural output contributes 30% to Kyrgyzstan's GDP and 50% of its employment.
Though the locusts are allegedly migrating from Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, no mention of locusts is currently in the news about either state, which I find interesting and indicative.
With plan in hand:
Further proof of a draconian agricultural regime in Uzbekistan: this week, Uzbekistan's wheat farmers are harvesting green wheat: not yet ripe, but their field's scheduled harvest day has arrived. The schedule is made to compensate for a lack of agricultural harvest equipment, but its consequences for this year's crop and next year's planting are disastrous. Green wheat does not make quality flour: if it is dried properly, it can be used, but not well. (If you are a breadmaker: the gluten properties do not develop and the bread doesn't rise).
Worst of all, farmers have been forbidden to note and mention what they see with their own eyes: that their grain is not ready, and that (by extension) the plan is a failure.
Contrasting to these reports, President Karimov visited Namangan, where he discussed the new Uzbekistan agricultural policies. Mr. Karimov spoke to farmers and agricultural specialists:
“In reforming the agricultural industry, we have chosen a path which has proved efficient in many developed countries , the path of farming,” said the President. “Life is confirming its correctness, positive results are obvious. This is particularly confirmed by the fact that the share of farms in the cotton production in Namangan region has totaled 82%, and in grain-growing , 86%.
Not directly related to the above:
Yesterday, the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs committee approved a food aid bill increase of USD 600 million minimum against future famines–one step in a long process. While this does not yet have the status of law, it does show some changes in U.S. lawmaker perceptions of foreign aid needs.
The aid approved would be untied to US domestic farm production, which allows a greater efficiency in aid distribution and purchase. With locust infestation and drought in Central Asia, lacks of agricultural equipment and inefficient cultivation systems, food aid may well become more relevant to the region than before.
