Since September 25 this year, cases of infestation of potato products imported from Iran and Pakistan with dangerous pests of quarantine significance for the territory of Uzbekistan – gold and light nematodes are being systematically identified, the Plant Quarantine and Protection Agency reported.

Golden and light nematodes are dangerous organisms that destroy up to 80-90% of the yield of potatoes or other types of melons. The annual damage caused by nematodes to agricultural crops worldwide is estimated to exceed $ 100 billion.

Taking into account the fact that 86,529 thousand hectares of potatoes, 24,591 thousand hectares of tomatoes, 12.7 thousand hectares of peppers and 137 thousand hectares of melons are grown in the country, the scale of the threat is even more pronounced. There is no effective chemical agent in the fight against nematodes. Potato and melon crops cannot be grown for up to 30 years in the area where the pests are spread.

From August this year to date, 110,000 tons of consumer potatoes have been imported into the country, of which 104,000 tons have been issued phytosanitary certificates of compliance. 3,525 tons (3.2%) of the potato product identified as nematodes was returned to the exporting country. 775 tons of products (0.7%) were destroyed by private entities due to lack of return.

The agency has sent a complaint to Iran and Pakistan in 2021 on violations of phytosanitary requirements of Uzbekistan. Pakistan has examined the phytosanitary certificates of all disease-detected cargoes and reported that they have been forged.

There are also reports that consumer potatoes imported from Pakistan are being redistributed in Afghanistan and mixed with potatoes from other countries (including India), which is a potato used not as food but as fodder.