"Locust infestation threatens Afghanistan's wheat harvest and children's nutrition"
Afghanistan's wheat harvest is under threat from a large-scale outbreak of Moroccan locusts, which could result in crop losses of between 700,000 and 1.2 million tonnes of wheat, according to the UN's food and agriculture organisation. The outbreak is expected to be devastating for farmers in eight key agricultural provinces, mostly in the north and north-east, who were expecting a better harvest this year after three years of drought. The locusts have already reportedly devastated pistachio orchards in north-western Badghis province. The UN is seeking more funding to ensure chemical treatment can be deployed from September.