Moldova's National Food Safety Agency warns about enhanced growing of ambroasia

Chisinau, 15 July /MOLDPRES/ - The National Food Safety Agency (ANSA) has warned about the fact that the frequent rains and heat of more than +30 Celsius degrees favour the enhanced development of ambrosia, which can be found all over Moldova, both on non-cared fields, on edges of roads, as well as in woods, gardens and parks. ANSA asked all owners of lands hit by ambrosia to deal with the plant’s extirpation.     

According to the institution, till the beginning of the next autumn, the pollen of ambrosia, driven by wind, can trigger pollinosis (allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, which is one of the aggravating factors of the asthma). At the same time, the presence of weed in agricultural crops causes significant losses of harvest.  

“We appeal to all farmers, local councils, private people and legal entities, no matter the type of property and legal form of organization, to carry out the systematic research of lands, in order to identify the weed and extirpate it,’’ the National Food Safety Agency said.   

It is recommended to apply the mechanical and chemical way for the efficient extirpation of ambrosia. At the same time, decision-makers recommend the use of herbicides homologated and included in the State Register of phyto-sanitary products and of fertilizers when applying the chemical way.  

„In the process of research and experimenting in field conditions,  the herbicides recommended proved an enhanced efficiency at the extirpation of ambrosia at the level of 70-99 per cent,’’ ANSA said.

Ambrosia artemisiifolia is an invasive plant, extremely adaptable to the pedo-climatic conditions, resistant to drought and heat; it prefers the sandy soils, less fertile, slightly alkaline ones, which places it in the category of dominant plants, as compared to agricultural crops. The pollen of this plant is regarded as a quite aggressive allergen, with a negative impact on the population’s health condition.     

photo: ANSA