USAID offers $3.5m to help Georgia combat stink bug infestation

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is helping Georgia combat the country’s stink bug infestation problem by offering $3.5 million.

Furthermore, the USAID will purchase equipment and supplies such as traps, lures, tractors and sprayers for Georgia’s Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between USAID’s Assistant Administrator Brock Bierman and Georgia’s Minister of Environment Protection and Agriculture Levan Davitashvili was signed on March 5.

@usaid is strengthening its partnership with Georgia by committing $3.5 million of assistance to @agricultureGEO. @BBiermanUSAID signed an MOU pledging our support to help combat the #stinkbug in #Georgia with new supplies such as tractors, sprayers and traps #USAIDTransformspic.twitter.com/i8e2OGepbS

— USAID Georgia (@USAIDGeorgia) March 6, 2018

The brown marmorated stink bug, which damages crops, is widespread in Georgia and a real nuisance to Georgian farmers.

The pest was first reported in Georgia in 2015.

In 2016, the bugs destroyed a significant portion of the hazelnut harvest in West Georgia. 2017 was even more devastation and struck a wider area.

The Government of Georgia has already come up with a strategy to combat the brown marmorated stink bug problem for this year, which includes four main directions: an information campaign, the implementation of a monitoring system, stink bug control measures and scientific research.