Wheat Killing Fungus Threatens South, Central Asia

New York, NY (AHN) - The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said Wednesday that a fungus capable of destroying entire wheat fields has spread to Iran and threatens to invade neighboring countries in Central and South Asia.

FAO laboratory tests have confirmed the presence of wheat stem rust or Ug99 in some localities in Broujerd and Hamedan in western Iran. The fungus, which is spread by the wind across continents, originated in East Africa and Yemen.

The agency has warned neighboring Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan to be on high alert against the fungus.

"The fungus is spreading rapidly and could seriously lower wheat production in countries at direct risk," said Shivaji Pandey, Director of FAO's Plant Production and Protection Division.

He urged the control of the rust's spread to lower the risk to countries already impacted by high food prices.

The wheat stem rust was first detected in Uganda. Last year, Kenya and Ethiopia suffered a Ug99 epidemic that caused serious crop yield losses. FAO later found a more virulent strain in Yemen.