Morocco Battles Cochineal Infestation Threatening Vital Cactus Crops

The invasion of the cochineal has caused considerable damage in Morocco in recent years, resulting in the loss of 15,000 hectares of cactus plantations, an essential crop for Moroccan agriculture. Between July 2016 and the end of December 2023, nearly 39 million linear meters of cactus have been destroyed to contain the spread of this pest, according to Hespress.

To prevent this threat, the Ministry of Agriculture has taken drastic measures to avoid losses for farmers who live from cactus cultivation. Thus, more than 234 million linear meters of cactus have been treated with 82,000 liters of pesticides distributed to farmers, with the help of the plant protection services of the National Office of Sanitary Safety of Food Products (ONSSA).

Other measures have been initiated by the ministry to treat the eight strains of the cochineal resistant to conventional treatments. According to Minister Mohamed Sadiki, the ability of the cochineal to reproduce in large numbers and at a fairly rapid pace is one of the factors of its spread to new areas, as well as the winds that transport them from one region to another.

Faced with these findings, and aware of the importance of cactus cultivation for Morocco, the Ministry of Agriculture must redouble its efforts to contain the spread of the cochineal and avoid losses for farmers.