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, and is used in livestock feed, fencing, soil conservation, and environmental protection. Recently, the cactus pear populations in Tigray have been severely affected by an exotic insect, the cochineal (Dactylopius coccus). It damaged cactus pear populations in the region's southern, southeastern, and eastern zones. The Tigray war that broke out in November 2020 exacerbated D. coccus infestation. A study was conducted in the eastern zone of Tigray to assess the impact of the armed conflict on the trends of this infestation and propose sustainable management approaches for sustainable cactus pear production in post-war Tigray. Both primary and secondary data were collected and analyzed. The findings revealed that D. coccus infestation significantly increased during the war and in the post-war period, compared to in the pre-war period. The number of districts involved and level of D. coccus infestation of cactus pear populations increased. The rapid spread was attributed to the interruption of pest management activities due to the armed conflict. To mitigate the spread and ensure sustainable cactus pear production, this study recommends different management approaches to manage D. coccus dissemination and sustainably produce cactus pear in the region, including pest prevention, suppression, or eradication.

Globally, cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) is typically produced in low rainfall areas; in Ethiopia, Tigray Region, it was imported and cultivated since 1848s. To conduct the study, 80 households were selected through multistage sampling method from Endamehoni and Raya-Azebo woredas. Data were obtained from primary and secondary sources. The primary data sources were observations, interviewing, focus group and key informants' discussions; while secondary data sources were offices of study area. The collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics. The study showed 69.99 and 30% of cactus coverage land (22,350.5 hectares), were owned by communal and privately individual, respectively. For human feed, livestock, income generating, farmland fence, household energy, soil and water conservation, home fence and job creating opportunity were cactus merits of the study area. In the study area, cochineal insect was introduced from 2003 to 2011 for controlling cactus expansions and concurrently for commercial purpose meanwhile it became cactus invaders. About 15,489 hectares in Raya-Azebo and 3165.5 in Enda Mehoni land coverage by cactus were lost by the insect. Inadequate adoption trial research; lack of insects training for stakeholders; on cochineal insect knowledge limitation; techniques and materials limitation; lack of coordination's among companies' workers, researches, concerned government office and being irresponsible the company were the major cochineal insect infestation controlling problem in the study area. It was concluded that most cactus was damaged by cochineal insect thereby resulted in in securing community economy. To solve the problem different concerned body of cactus should work together.