FAO, Iran Collaborate to Strengthen Integrated Management of Date Palm Diseases

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture Jahad and the Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection, has initiated an Integrated Management Approach to tackle the threat of pests and diseases in Iran’s date palm groves.

This project, titled “Technical Assistance to Improve Integrated Pest Management (IPM) of Date Palm Key Insect Pests and Diseases,” was officially launched at an inception workshop held on December 30, 2024.

Date palms are of crucial importance to Iran’s agricultural economy and food security, especially in the southern provinces like Sistan and Baluchestan, Hormozgan, Fars, and Kerman. With more than 93 commercial varieties, Iran is a leading global producer of dates. However, the industry is confronted with various challenges, including extreme climate conditions, water shortages, and improper crop management practices.

Insects such as the Red Palm Weevil and the Dubas bug, along with diseases like Date Palm Bunch Wilting Disorder, have recently inflicted damage on date palm groves.

At the workshop, Chongguang Liao, FAO Representative ad interim to Iran, emphasized the necessity of addressing these issues promptly, stating that “Unchecked infestations of invasive pests like the Red Palm Weevil could lead to severe economic and ecological consequences.”

The project is designed to meet the urgent need for a comprehensive and integrated strategy by utilizing the combined efforts of numerous institutions and approaches. The aim is to introduce sustainable and varied management strategies to cultivate healthy crops and reduce the risk of pest outbreaks.

Focused on enhancing phytosanitary measures to curb the spread of invasive pests, the project seeks to improve early warning systems and efficient reporting mechanisms for effective population density monitoring. Additionally, it aims to enhance integrated management protocols to introduce and emphasize emerging strategies for combating significant insect pests and diseases while building national capacity to enable farmers, gardeners, and plant protection teams to effectively implement these solutions.

Yubak Dhoj GC, FAO Senior Agricultural Officer, stated, “Prevention and control of diseases and pests require an integral strategy which mobilizes synergies of multiple institutions.”

Through these measures, the project intends to minimize production losses, boost crop yields, and ensure the long-term sustainability of Iran’s date palm industry.

This Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) project is both owned by and designed for Iran. The inception workshop gathered experts, policymakers, and stakeholders to synchronize priorities and strategies to protect the country’s date palm groves.