Home | Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Central Region | Food and Agriculture of the United Nations

The Desert Locust Commission, established under FAO's Article XIV, was endorsed in 1965 and came into effect on 21 February 1967. Renamed in 1994 as the Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Central Region (CRC). The CRC comprises 17 member countries: Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. It coordinates locust control efforts, maintains emergency reserves, strengthens national capacities, and supports research to combat locust outbreaks, within the most critical breeding habitats of Desert Locust.

Highlights

CRC contribution to issue No. 97 of the Arab and Near East Plant Protection Bulletin (ANEPPB)

15/04/2026

The Commission is pleased to announce the publication of Issue No. 97 of The Arab and Near East Plant Protection Bulletin (ANEPPB), now...

Makkah (Saudi Arabia)

National training course on desert locust survey, detection, and information collection

10/05/2026 - 14/05/2026

This event aims to strengthen national capacities in survey planning, early detection, and field data collection using standard tools (e.g. eLocust)....

Desert Locust Bulletin No. 570 - March 2026

03/04/2026

THE OUTBREAK SPREADS NORTHWARDS IN MOROCCO. In March, the outbreak continued in Western Sahara and Morocco while spreading northwards. Breeding increased...

Multimedia

Use of drones for desert locust control operations (Second field trial)

11/11/2025

Second field trial on the use of drones for desert locust control operations, conducted in Sur, Sultanate of Oman, in April 2025, showcasing innovative...

CRC Participates in the 15th International Congress of Orthopterology (ICO2026) in Argentina

11/03/2026

The Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Central Region (CRC) actively participated in the 15th International Congress of Orthopterology,...

The use and maintenance of Ultra-Low Volume (ULV) sprayers for locust control operation

30/10/2025

A regional workshop on sprayer maintenance and repair was held in Ismailia, Egypt, from 23 to 27 February 2025. The workshop aimed to enhance the skills...

Publications

Advancing sustainable locust management - Central region annual report 2025

08/04/2026

The 2025 annual report provides a comprehensive and systematic overview of the technical activities, training programmes, workshops and field operations...

Ultra-low volume handheld sprayer (passive drift)

30/01/2023

The desert locust is one of the most dangerous insect pests worldwide, causing major damage to agricultural crops and natural pastures. Control operations...

Desert locust research activities in the Central Region Commission

17/12/2024

Since its establishment in 1967, the CRC’s primary mission has been to coordinate and support the efforts of its member countries in monitoring, forecasting,...

Events

21/6

2026

25/6

2026

Interregional joint workshop for desert locust information officers

Cairo (Egypt), 21/06/2026 - 25/06/2026

The Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Central Region (CRC), the Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Western Region (CLCPRO), and the Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in South-West Asia (SWAC) are planning to jointly organize a workshop for desert locust information officers in Cairo, Egypt, from 21 to 25 June 2026.

This interregional worksh...

10/5

2026

14/5

2026

National training course on desert locust survey, detection, and information collection

Makkah (Saudi Arabia), 10/05/2026 - 14/05/2026

This event aims to strengthen national capacities in survey planning, early detection, and field data collection using standard tools (e.g. eLocust). It focuses on improving the technical skills of survey teams, enhancing the quality and timeliness of field data reporting, and reinforcing early warning capacities.

4/5

2026

8/5

2026

ULV sprayers maintenance training

Sukkur (Pakistan), 04/05/2026 - 08/05/2026

This event aims to enhance technical capacity in the maintenance, calibration, and safe operation of ULV sprayers. It focuses on improving equipment performance and lifespan, reducing operational downtime, and strengthening technical maintenance capacity.

Current situation: Caution