Armenia has called in specialists from the International Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to assist in measures seeking to stem the spreading of the potato moth from the rural community of Darakert.

The moth has already caused extensive damage to the potato and tomato crop in the area.

Deputy Agricultural Minister Robert Makaryan told reporters today that the moth had already spread to neighboring villages but failed to name them.

Makaryan did not mention how the moth, common and widespread in the warmer parts of the Pacific region, turned up in Armenia’s Ararat Province.