Türkiye’s Black Sea area, which is a world chief in hazelnut manufacturing, faces a rising menace from an invasive insect referred to as the brown skunk. The insect, first recognized in Türkiye seven years in the past after having migrated from Georgia, has quickly unfold throughout the nation, protecting roughly 30 kilometers every day.
The brown skunk is a sap-sucking insect that feeds on plant leaves, resulting in the drying up of plant roots and posing a major threat to hazelnut bushes and varied agricultural merchandise within the area. To fight this invasive pest, each organic and chemical management strategies, in addition to handbook assortment and elimination, are being employed.
As a part of the organic warfare in opposition to the brown skunk, over 30,000 “samurai bees” imported from China had been launched into the wild in Artvin this yr. The infestation is estimated to trigger annual financial losses of TL 5 billion ($178 million).
Sebahattin Arslantürk, a member of the board of administrators of the National Hazelnut Council (UFK), expressed concern that if the brown skunk inhabitants continues to broaden, it might trigger as much as an 80% loss in hazelnut manufacturing subsequent yr. He emphasised on the dimensions of the issue, noting {that a} single pair of brown skunks can lay round 14,000 eggs throughout the season.
Arslantürk highlighted the significance of each organic and chemical warfare methods in combatting this invasive pest. While introducing samurai bees is an encouraging step, it could take a number of years to see the complete outcomes. In the meantime, the usage of chemical management measures stays crucial to guard Türkiye’s hazelnut manufacturing.
Source: www.dailysabah.com