Karbala to undertake massive pesticide operation

KARBALA –  The Karbala Agriculture Directorate initiated a free campaign on Monday to combat the Dubas bug in severely affected palm groves for the 2024 agricultural season.

Majed Hameed, head of Plant Protection at the Directorate, disclosed that the campaign entails aerial spraying of Spartan pesticides over palm groves with the assistance of Ministry of Defense helicopters, targeting an area spanning 20,000 dunums (approximately 5,000 acres).

Ground-based activities are also part of the campaign, covering 6,000 dunums of moderately affected areas across various districts and sub-districts.

Hameed said the Ain al-Tamur district to the west will not be included in this year’s campaign, as no infections have been recorded there.