Baghdad: To ensure the safety of orchards, the Ministry of Agriculture continues its field visits in Baghdad to diagnose and treat the red palm weevil.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, specialized technical teams from the Ministry of Agriculture are conducting survey, investigation, and control operations against the red palm weevil within the Al-Nasr and Al-Salam Agriculture Division, following directives from the Minister of Agriculture, Abdul Rahim Al-Shammari.

The operations involve a field survey to identify the number of infested palm trees and assess the levels of infestation. The technical teams have initiated procedures to clean the trees, remove the insect’s life stages, and treat them using approved technical methods. These procedures include the use of Phostoxin tablets and spraying with recommended pesticides, tailored to the condition of each palm tree and the degree of infestation.

Tests have indicated that the majority of red palm weevil infestations are associated with grafting and the removal of offshoots and suckers. As a result, field teams have advised halting these operations temporarily and adhering to preventative guidelines. Flash pesticide has been distributed to continue treatment, while technical teams persist in conducting periodic control rounds to safeguard orchards and manage the infestation.