Three experts of the State Entity “Locust Control Expedition”, Ministry of Agriculture, Tajikistan, visited the laboratory of the Agency on Quarantine and Plant Protection (AQPP), Ministry of Agriculture, Uzbekistan, from 26 to 28 September 2023, in Tashkent. This country-to-country visit allowed them to get acquainted with the research and practical works carried out by the Lab and the AQPP as whole on locusts. The programme of the visit more specifically included two days indoors and one field day. The experts visited the facilities of the Scientific Research Institute for Quarantine and Plant Protection of AQPP, to which the lab belongs, and were informed on its history, achievements, ongoing work and future plans. Presentations and demonstrations addressed bio-ecology and spread areas of locusts and grasshoppers in Uzbekistan, natural enemies, sampling and storing for further studies. The visit to other units of the Institute was also organized, such as the research lab on the pests of pastures, fodder and oil seed crops, as well as medicinal plants, and the bio-factory, where various entomophagous insects are reared. Tajik participants informed about the wish to establish a locust laboratory in their country, with at least basic equipment in the near future. During the field day, locust survey methods, data collection and sampling were demonstrated. Various spraying equipment and insecticides used against locusts by AQPP were also showed in the field. The experts from the two countries took this opportunity to discuss strengthening of cooperation and coordination of activities in the border areas. The visit was organised in the framework of the FAO Locust Programme in Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA) and funded by the regional project financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The book entitled “Moroccan Locust Dociostaurus maroccanus (Thunberg, 1815): morphology, distribution, ecology, population management” is now available [www.fao.org/3/cc7159ru/cc7159ru.pdf]. This is the second monograph on locust species from Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA) published in Russian with the support from the FAO “Programme to improve national and regional locust management in CCA”, which follows the monograph on the Italian Locust published in 2022. The 596-pp. book is authored by seven specialists from Kazakhstan (M. Childebaev and I. Temreshev), Russian Federation (M. Sergeev and A. Fedotova), Turkmenistan (E. Kokanova), Uzbekistan (F. Gapparov) and FAO (A. Latchininsky). It contains 290 illustrations. The monograph summarizes the findings of more than century-long research on the Moroccan Locust in the eastern part of its geographic range. Morphology, taxonomy, ecology, and behaviour as well as phase polyphenism are treated in detail. Special chapters are devoted to food plants (210 species) and natural enemies (275 species) as well as habitats and breeding areas in the eastern part of its range. Methods of monitoring and management strategies, both historical and modern, are also described. The book is complemented by short biographies of specialists who worked on the Moroccan Locust over the last hundred years in CCA.

The next Technical Workshop on Locusts in CCA, scheduled in November 2023 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, will gather the countries participating in the FAO “Programme to improve national and regional locust management in the Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA)” as well as observers, in addition to the FAO organizers. The Workshop will allow discussing the lessons learnt from the 2023 national anti-locust campaign and preparation of the next one, the implementation of the Programme in 2023 and workplan for 2024, the latest developments regarding the Geographic Information System (GIS) entitled “Caucasus and Central Asia Locust Management System” (CCALM), and risk reduction associated with locust control operations. A specific session will be devoted to the promotion and use of biopesticides against locusts. This event is possible thanks to the financial support of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

From 1 to 4 August 2023, the Human Health and Environmental Monitoring Team from the State Entity “Locust Control Expedition”, Ministry of Agriculture, Tajikistan, welcomed three Locust Experts from the Agency on Quarantine and Plant Protection, Ministry of Agriculture, Uzbekistan, during a monitoring mission organized in Sughd, in north Tajikistan. The purpose was to share the practical experience gained over the past years by the Tajik Team, which was set up in 2015, with the Uzbek Experts who are in the process of creating such team, and more specifically to allow fruitful exchanges on human health and environmental monitoring of locust control, in addition to strengthen the existing regional network. During the visit, the experts from both countries conducted post-treatment monitoring in four districts, Mastchoh, Zafarobod, B. Gahfurov and J. Rasulov. The field mission allowed addressing the following topics: health monitoring of control operators, including measurement of blood AChE cholinesterase level; correct use of personnel protective equipment; filling of pesticide use passports; calibration of Ultra-low volume (ULV) sprayers; impact of treatments on non-target organisms; management of pesticide empty containers; and information of local population on safety measures to be adopted before, during and after treatments. The importance of such human health and environmental monitoring was highlighted to help improving quality control and reducing the risks related to the use of chemical pesticides in locust management. This country-to-country visit was organised with the financial support of the project funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), in the framework of FAO Locust Programme in Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA). 

Two practical tools on the use of Personal Protective Equipment as well as on empty container management in locust control have been made available to  staff involved in locust control and pesticide handling in Caucasus and Central Asia. The first poster explains the importance of using Personal Protective Equipment and highlights several Do & Don’t! in addition to tips and warnings. The second poster, on empty container management, aims at promoting their adequate management, with a view to avoid negative impact on human health and the environmental, and also highlights several Do & Don’t! Such extension materials, available in English and in Russian, complement the already published “Practical Guidelines on pesticide risk reduction of locust control in CCA”. They were produced in the framework of the FAO “Programme to improve national and regional locust management in Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA)”, thanks to the financial contributions of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

On 26 July, the Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan, His Excellency Yerbol Karashukeyev, visited the new Swiss Centre for Locusts and Migratory Pests during a visit in FAO-Headquarters in Rome. A number of questions were discussed related to locust management, including the use of modern technologies such as Geographical Information Systems and drones to improve locust monitoring, training possibilities abroad for locust experts as well as the need for a permanent body for sustainable management of locusts in Caucasus and Central Asia.

The E-Committee on CCALM was held on 26 and 27 July 2023, involving more than 40 Locust Experts from all Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA) countries together with FAO specialists and system's developers. This third annual meeting of the E-Committee allowed discussing the use of the Automated System for Data Collection (ASDC) and of the Geographic Information System (GIS) “Caucasus and Central Asia Locust Management System” (CCALM) during the 2022 and 2023 campaigns by countries. Improvements of the two systems were also presented, as well as the linkages between CCALM and existing national GIS, especially from Kazakhstan. Regarding ASDC specifically, in addition to the existing Locust Survey Form and Spray Monitoring Form, the insertion of a third form, for Human Health and Environmental monitoring, was also in-depth discussed. The meeting was possible thanks to the financial support of two projects respectively funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and of the United Nations Agency for International Development (USAID). 

Highly selective biopesticides against locusts are being promoted while currently, on average, 4.2 million hectares are treated annually against locusts with large-spectrum chemical pesticides in Caucasus and Central Asia. Both a leaflet and poster on biopesticide use were produced to target decision-makers and technicians/locust experts. The leaflet explains the rationale for choosing biopesticides, which have no negative impact on human health and the environment, and provides information on what they are and how they work. This poster describes the different practical steps regarding biopesticide use against locusts. Such advocacy and extension materials, which are available in English and in Russian, are produced in the framework of the FAO “Programme to improve national and regional locust management in Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA)”, thanks to the financial contributions of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

A joint survey covering a total of 43 000 ha in Lebap, Turkmenistan, and Kashkadarya, Uzbekistan, was conducted on 31 May-4 June between the Plant Protection Service, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment Protection, Turkmenistan, and the Agency for Quarantine and Plant Protection, Ministry of Agriculture, Uzbekistan. On the Turkmen side of the border, the joint survey, which involved eight experts (four from each country), was carried out on 18 000 ha in Kuytendag, Khojambaz and Darganata districts on 31 May-1 June: Moroccan Locust (DMA) was present as adults, with a maximum density of 10-15 individuals/m2. It was also reported that during the 2023 campaign, 17 395 ha had been treated against DMA in these three border districts, as well as 2659 ha were treated against Large Saxaul Humpback Grasshopper (Dericorys albidula). On the Uzbek side of the border, the survey was conducted by four Uzbek experts on 2-4 June in Nishan and Dehkanabad districts, covering 25 000 ha, including 15 000 ha for the Moroccan Locust and 10 000 ha for the Large Saxaul Humpback Grasshopper. Infestations by both species were observed, especially adult Large Saxaul Humpback Grasshoppers in the areas covered by saxaul shrubs in Nishan district; chemical treatments of infested areas were ongoing. At the end of the joint survey, the participants signed a joint protocol on the main findings, highlighting the importance of cooperation and information exchange. The survey was organized in the framework of the FAO “Programme to improve regional and national locust management in Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA)”, with the financial support of the “Project for improvement of locust management (Phase 2)” approved by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for Central Asia countries.

As biopesticides have a key role to play in anti-locust campaigns respectful of human health and the environment, a demonstration/trial on their use against locusts was held by FAO to the benefit of Caucasus countries in Kakheti, Georgia, on 8-11 June 2023. A total of 32 persons participated, from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, as well as from Uzbekistan and from Sardinia, Italy, in addition to representatives from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), FAO and Micron. The four-day demonstration included presentations on the use of biopesticides in locust control, field application against hoppers of Italian Locust (CIT) with Metarhizium acridum, mortality assessment (including of treatments conducted about 8-10 days before, biopesticides being slow-acting products) and assessment of absence of impact on non-target organisms in treatments. This event was possible thanks to the strong support of the National Food Agency, Georgia, and with the financial assistance of the USAID-funded project, as part of the FAO “Programme to improve national and regional locust management in Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA)”. It had been preceded by a similar demonstration trial organized to the benefit of Central Asian countries in April 2023, in Jizzakh, Uzbekistan. These two demonstration trials during the 2023 campaign should allow collecting valuable data on the use of biopesticides against the Moroccan and the Italian Locusts and to advocate for their future use, with a view to reduce the negative impact of locust treatments on human health and the environment.