Climate change is exacerbating the spread a transboundary pest, the cochineal insect, posing a significant threat to Tunisia's prickly pear cultivation and its associated economic activities. Initially detected in Mahdia during August 2021, the infestation has since expanded into Kairouan, Monastir, and Sousse.
Agriculturalist Noureddine Nasr emphasized the insect's danger to the "green treasure" of Tunisia, advocating for improved pruning and organization of fig trees to enhance monitoring and early detection. Nasr proposed an emergency response program, overseen by civil protection committees, and the formation of a national committee to combat the pest. He highlighted the crucial role of rain in mitigating the insect's spread, but noted Tunisia's high temperatures, especially in the summer of 2023, have facilitated the pest's survival and reproduction.
Source: tap.info.tn