The locust situation was calm during March in the major part of the Caucasian and Central Asian regions due to weather conditions still unsuitable for hatching. In southern Central Asian countries, hatching of the Moroccan Locust (DMA) started from mid-March and control operations were undertaken against small bands of young hoppers over more than 50,000 hectares. Natural vegetation is slowly growing and greening; cereal crops are in the tillering stage. As the forecast period corresponds to hatching or hopper development of the three main locust pests, locust numbers will progressively increase, which will probably result in some local infestations