Dukhairi Warns of the Dangers of the “Red Palm Weevil”

Professor Ibrahim Adam Ahmed Al-Dukhairi, Director-General of the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development, warned about the threat posed by the red palm weevil to date production in the Arab region. He described it as a serious pest that leads to crop deterioration, increasing farmers’ losses, causing significant economic burdens for date-producing countries, and emphasizing the limitations of traditional control methods.

During a session he chaired on the economic and social studies report at the closing meeting of the FAO’s regional program on combating the red palm weevil in the Near East and North Africa region, Al-Dukhairi highlighted the critical role of the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development in supporting regional efforts to combat the pest. He stressed the importance of regional cooperation among date-producing countries to eradicate this serious pest, advocating the use of scientific innovations and modern methods for pest management. He called for raising awareness among farmers about sustainable practices and modern techniques, emphasizing the need to intensify research efforts and knowledge exchange among date-producing countries.

He also mentioned the importance of improving agricultural policies to enhance resilience in facing the challenges posed by the red palm weevil, stressing the need to integrate environmental and economic aspects in planning for pest control.