A tiny insect, known to some as the prickly pear cochineal, is ravaging Tunisia’s prickly pears, a critical source of revenue for the North African country's agriculture sector and economy. - REUTERS
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00:00Once a vibrant green, these prickly pears in Tunisia are now a dull grey, thanks to
00:07the tiny prickly pear cochineal insect that is wreaking havoc on harvests.
00:14Cochineal sucks the sap from cactus pads, eventually killing the plant.
00:18And a chunk of Tunisia's economy, as many in the North African country depend on the
00:23plant for their livelihoods.
00:27Agriculture expert Fawzi Zayani estimates that prickly pears cover nearly 1.5 million
00:32acres and about 12 percent of Tunisia's agricultural land, making it a significant source of income
00:39for thousands.
00:40But when the cochineal insect came to Tunisia in 2021, things changed.
00:46Consequently, when it spreads here, we lose our wealth.
00:50We all know in Tunisia that prickly pear represents a national wealth.
00:55In my opinion, it is the second after olive trees.
00:59He adds, the pears are particularly important for women who spend their summer harvesting
01:04and selling the fruit.
01:07Selma Jarder is one of them.
01:11She says the disease came to destroy it, and that her whole village used to eat from the
01:16fruits of the prickly pear.
01:19Zayani says the cochineal insect was first found in Mexico, but the country has since
01:24found prevention methods.
01:26In Tunisia, governments and international organizations are now trying to do the same.
01:31The Food and Agricultural Organization initiated a $500,000 emergency project to introduce
01:37biological control methods such as ladybugs, which are predators of the insect.
01:43And the Tunisian Ministry of Agriculture is promoting sustainable control measures, including
01:48changes in agricultural practices, pruning, and cleaning in production areas.
01:55Farmer Bassan Chanoun says when he discovered the insect on his harvest, the authorities
02:00intervened immediately, but he still fears it will spread.
02:04It has caused me insomnia, he says.