Insect Wreaks Havoc on Tunisia’s Crucial Prickly Pear Industry
In picturesque Tunisia, an alarming crisis is unfolding in its agricultural heartlands. A minuscule yet destructive insect, known locally as the prickly pear cochineal, is causing widespread panic amongst farmers by threatening the prickly pear cacti, a cornerstone of Tunisia’s agricultural economy.
Bassem Sahnoun, a local farmer, voices the distress felt by many, “Our biggest fear, which has caused me insomnia, is the fear of the cochineal insect that threatens our harvest.” This tiny pest poses a massive threat to the popular fruit, causing sleepless nights and widespread concern for its future.
Since its discovery in 2021, the prickly pear cochineal has wreaked havoc across large swathes of plantations. The insect feeds on the sap of the cactus pads, leading to yellowing, withering, and ultimately the death of the plants. This alarming situation has caused significant economic concerns due to the crucial role prickly pears play in Tunisia’s agriculture and the broader economy.
Faouzi Zayani, an agriculture expert, sheds light on the crisis as he inspects dying cactus trees. “The cochineal insect affects the prickly pear tree. As you can see, the trees are dying, and consequently, we are losing the essence of things, which is the cultivation of prickly pears,” Zayani explains. The pest, initially discovered in Mexico, found its way to Tunisia from Morocco in 2015, posing an unprecedented threat to the country’s second most significant agricultural asset after olive trees.
Prickly pears are not just any crop; they cover around 600,000 hectares and stand as a vital source of income for thousands, including many women who are involved in harvesting and selling the fruit. “This is our livelihood, it requires a lot of labour, and it’s not just the farmer who benefits from it,” Sahnoun elaborates on the importance of prickly pear cultivation.
The Tunisian government, alongside international organizations, is launching initiatives to combat this pestilent crisis. The Food and Agriculture Organization has initiated a $500,000 emergency project focusing on biological control methods, including the deployment of ladybugs, a natural predator of the cochineal insect. Additionally, the Tunisian Ministry of Agriculture is advocating for sustainable control measures. These include altering agricultural practices, with recommended strategies such as pruning and cleaning production areas to mitigate the pest’s spread.
“We must have a sustainable solution for the cochineal insect. This situation should not continue in this way,” asserts Naima Mahfoudhi, an official at the Ministry of Agriculture. Farmers like Sahnoun are adopting these recommended practices, meticulously cleaning and protecting their remaining healthy prickly pear trees in hopes of salvaging their crops.
Yet, for some, like Selma Jridi, who also owns prickly pear plants, the situation feels beyond human control. “God’s will prevails, this is God’s judgment. Even the part that grows anew is affected by this disease; it deteriorates as if it had been cut with a saw,” Jridi laments, reflecting the despair and helplessness felt by many in the face of this agricultural crisis.
The struggle against the prickly pear cochineal illustrates the broader challenges facing Tunisia’s agricultural sector. The situation demands not only local and national action but also global attention to protect and preserve agricultural biodiversity and livelihoods against invasive species.
