Trends of Cochineal (<em>Dactylopius coccus</em>) Infestation as Affected by Armed Conflict and Intervention Mechanisms for Sustainable Management in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

The cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) is a crucial plant in Tigray, northern Ethiopia, widely distributed in arid and semi-arid environments. It serves as a seasonal food, livestock feed, fence, soil conservation, and environmental protection. Recently, the cactus pear population in Tigray have been damaged by an exotic insect, cochineal (Dactylopius coccus). It damaged the cactus pear populations in the region’s southern, south eastern and eastern zones. The Tigray war that broke out in November 2021 exacerbated D. coccus infestation. A study was conducted to assess the impact of the armed conflict on the trends of D. coccus infestation and forward management approaches for sustainable cactus pear production in post-war Tigray. The study was conducted in the eastern zone of Tigray. Primary and secondary data were collected. The study revealed that D. coccus infestation increased during and post-war compared to the pre-war. The number of districts and level of D. coccus¬ infestation on cactus pear populations increased. The rapid D. coccus spread is attributed to the impact of the armed conflict which halted the pest management practices. Different management approaches are recommended to manage D. coccus dissemination and sustainably produce cactus pear in the region, including pest prevention, suppression, or eradication.