A locust cross-border survey was conducted for the first time between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, on 2-5 June 2025. The survey covered about 6000 ha in Zhambyl region (Kazakhstan) and in Chuy and Talas regions (Kyrgyzstan). It involved 11 experts, i.e. five experts from the Republican Methodological Centre on Phytosanitary Diagnosis and Forecasts, Ministry of Agriculture, Kazakhstan, and six experts from the Department of Chemicalization, Plant Protection and Quarantine, Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry, Kyrgyzstan. On the Kazakh side, no locusts were observed in ZhuaIyn, Merken and Kordai districts while in Kyzylkainar district (which borders the Uch-Korgon district in Kyrgyzstan), Moroccan locust adults were detected at the start of the mating phase, with an average density of 3–6 individuals/m². The Kazakh Team showed readiness to maintain constant monitoring of this area in order to prevent the locust movements. On the Kyrgyz territory, no locusts were detected during the survey in Jayil, Moskva, Sokuluk, Alamudun, Ysyk-Ata and Chui districts (Chui region), where chemical treatments had previously been carried out on 3500 ha, including on 250 ha border areas of Sokuluk and Jayil districts in border areas. In Frunze village of Panfilov district (Chui), Italian locust hoppers from 1st to 3rd instars were observed with an average density of 1–2 individuals/m². The Kyrgyz Team informed about their plan to conduct treatment in this area within five-six days. In Manas district (Talas region), Moroccan locust in their last instar stage and fledged individuals, as well as other grasshoppers, were detected not exceeding the economic threshold. The Teams noted that the responsible entities of both countries were conducting regular surveys and chemical treatments against locusts, including in border areas, and that no cross-border migration or flights of locusts had been observed. They highlighted that protection of agricultural lands from locust threats in border areas can only be addressed through joint and well-planned efforts by both sides and that special attention should be paid to Zhambyl district (Zhambyl region, Kazakhstan) and Manas district (Talas region, Kyrgyzstan) as well as to Panfilov district (Chui region, Kyrgyzstan) and Merken district (Zhambyl region, Kazakhstan). This successful joint activity  allowed further strengthening of the professional ties as well as timely exchange of information and coordinated actions. The cross-border survey was covered by the regional project “Improvement of locust management (Phase 2)”, funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), under the FAO “Programme to improve national and regional locust management in Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA)”.

In recent years, Afghanistan and Tajikistan have experienced transboundary movements of the Moroccan locust. To enhance information exchange and coordination, FAO, under its “Programme to improve national and regional locust management in the Caucasus and Central Asia,” supported locust surveys carried out simultaneously on both sides of the border, from 5 to 8 May 2025. A team of ten Afghan local experts surveyed the relevant border areas in Afghanistan, while five Tajik specialists were involved in the same areas but on the other side of the border, in Tajikistan. The survey in Afghanistan covered six border districts in the north: Khwaja Ghar, Dasht-e-Qala, Yangi Qala, Khwaja Bahauddin, and Chah Ab of Takhar Province, and Dasht-e-Archi of Kunduz Province. In total, over 699 hectares (ha) were thoroughly surveyed, out of which 351 ha were found infested by Moroccan locust, mostly in the adult stage. The average locust density was 221 individuals/m², ranging from 180 to 290 individuals/m². In Tajikistan, the survey covered approximately 4500 ha across four southern districts of the Khatlon region: Sh. Shohin, Hamadoni, Farkhor, and Panj. An area of 190 ha in these four border districts was found infested by Moroccan locust in final instar stage or undergoing mass fledging, with average densities of 90–100 individuals/m². The infested areas on both sides were promptly treated with chemical insecticides. No transboundary movement was reported during the survey, thanks to the timely control operations conducted by both countries. Both Teams used the Automated System of Data Collection (ASDC) during the survey, especially the Afghan Team, which covered 100 percent of the surveyed areas with this system. The countries agreed to maintain regular communication through email and with the continued facilitation of FAO. The survey in the Afghan side of the border was supported by the FAO office in the country, while the part in Tajikistan was covered by the project funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) “Improvement of locust management (phase 2)”.      

Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan conducted a locust cross-border survey over 17 500 ha on both sides of the border in Ferghana valley, i.e. in Jalal-Abad, Osh and Batken regions of Kyrgyzstan and in Andijan, Ferghana and Namangan regions of Uzbekistan, from 26 to 31 May 2025. Ten experts attended the survey, five from the Department on Chemicalization, Plant Protection and Quarantine, Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry, Kyrgyzstan, and five from the Agency on Plant Protection and Quarantine, Ministry of Agriculture, Uzbekistan. In Kyrgyzstan, a few groups of Moroccan locust adults were observed in Aravan district, Osh, where 300 ha had already been treated and where additional treatments was being conducted to prevent migration to Uzbekistan. In Batken, no Moroccan locust was found in Markaz village of Kadamjay district while DMA hoppers in their 2nd and 3rd instar were observed in Tamasha village of Kadamjay, 50 km away of the border, with an average density of 50-70 individuals/m2. No locusts were observed in the border areas in Jalal-Abad. In Uzbekistan, in the border areas of Andijan (five districts), Ferghana (three districts) and Namangan (five districts), only a few small hopper bands of Moroccan and Italian locusts were found with densities not exceeding the economic threshold. In these three regions, by the time of survey, the chemical treatments had already covered 7594 ha. The experts noted that, due to a changing climate and rising temperature, Moroccan locust outbreaks are occurring in mountainous areas of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan at elevations of up to 2100 meters above sea level, over wider areas, including close to borders. Thanks to the close cooperation and timely measures taken on both sides of the border, no locust transboundary movements have been observed over the past few years. The cross-border survey was organized by FAO within its “Programme to improve national and regional locust management in Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA)”, thanks to the financiale support of the regional project funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

On 20 to 23 May 2025, two representatives from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and one from FAO accompanied the Tajik Human Health and Environmental Monitoring (HH&Env) Team of the State Entity “Locust Control Expedition” (SE-LCE), Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), Tajikistan, during one of its monitoring missions in Sughd. The HH&Env Team, consisting of three locust experts from the Central office of SE-LCE and an engineer from the regional branch, demonstrated its work in five pilot districts: Istaravshan, Zafarobod, Devashtich, Mastchoh and B. Ghafurov. Key activities included:  measuring cholinesterase level in the operators’ blood and completion of pesticide use passports for each of them; monitoring of equipment use where treatments were underway; monitoring of recently treated areas against Moroccan locust (Dociostaurus maroccanus, DMA) and Italian locust (Calliptamus italicus, CIT) as well as grasshopper populations; and assessment of any potential impact on human health, the environment, i.e non-target organisms. In addition, during a field visit in Zafarobod on 21 May, the Team evaluated the effectiveness of treatments with biopesticide Metarhizium acridum, which had been carried out on 10-11 May over 60 hectares against CIT early instar hoppers (with densities reaching up to 480 individuals/m² in a band). During the visit, the results showed 100% mortality in cages 10 days after the treatment and over 90% in the field. This is the second year of successful biopesticide testing in Tajikistan. JICA and FAO were thanked by SE-LCE staff for the invaluable support provided, especially in providing vehicles and sprayers as well as capacity-building trainings. JICA representatives interviewed SE-LCE staff on several aspects, including the impact of the project on the improvement of locust management. The Team’s activities, which are spanned before, during and after the campaign to monitor the impact of locust control operations and adopt any required mitigating measures, are supported by the regional project “Improvement of Locust Management in Central Asia – Phase 2” funded by JICA and implemented by FAO in the framework of its “Programme to improve national and regional locust management in Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA)”. 

From 12 to 16 May 2025, experts from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan conducted a locust cross-border survey over 16 000 hectares (ha) to monitor potential threats to agriculture in border areas. This collaborative effort brought together nine experts from both countries, i.e. four from the Republican Methodological Centre on Phytosanitary Diagnosis and Forecasts, Ministry of Agriculture, Kazakhstan, and five from the Agency for Plant Protection and Quarantine, Ministry of Agriculture, Uzbekistan. The first part of the survey held in Kazakhstan was also attended by the FAO Senior Locust Management Expert. The team jointly surveyed both sides of the border, including 7500 ha in Kazakhstan, i.e. in Kazygurt, Saryagash, and Keles districts of Turkestan region, and 8500 ha in Uzbekistan, in Tashkent, Kibray, Bostanlik, Chinaz, Yangiyul, and Zangiata districts of Tashkent region. Based on the survey, no Moroccan locust was observed, but grasshoppers of various instar ages were recorded with average densities of 0.05-01 individuals/m2. Experts from both countries stressed the importance of cross-border cooperation in managing locust threats that can severely impact crops and rural livelihoods. They reaffirmed their commitment to information sharing and continued joint action. The cross-border survey was supported by the project funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and implemented by FAO as part of its Locust Programme in the Caucasus and Central Asia.

A cross-border locust survey took place over 31 000 ha, from 21 to 26 April 2025, involving ten experts from the Plant Protection Service, Ministry of Agriculture of Turkmenistan and from the Agency for Plant Protection and Quarantine, Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan (five persons per country). The first part of the survey was carried out in Turkmenistan, in Khojambas, Farab, Kuytendag, and Darganata districts of Lebap region, covering 7 000 hectares (ha), out of which 3 000 ha were found infested, mainly with Moroccan locust (DMA). DMA hoppers were mainly in their 3rd and 4th instars, with hopper densities ranging from 50–70 individuals/m² (minimum) to 100–150 individuals/m² (maximum), and an average of 90 individuals/m². The large saxaul humpback grasshopper, observed in Darganata, was in 2nd and 3rd instars, with densities ranging from 4 to 10 individuals/m². During the second half of the joint activity, in Uzbekistan, the team surveyed 24 000 ha in Guzar, Dehkanabad, and Nishan districts of Kashkadarya region, as well as Alat and Karakul districts of Bukhara region. In the infested areas, Moroccan locusts were mainly in 5th instar, with a maximum density of 110–140 individuals/m²; large saxaul humpback grasshoppers were in the 2nd and 3rd instars, with a maximum of 6–8 individuals/m². Infested areas on both sides of the border are actively being treated in order to prevent damage to nearby crops and plantations. Turkmen and Uzbek experts maintain regular communication, with a shared commitment to exchange updates and respond promptly to any outbreaks. The survey was covered by the FAO regional project “Improvement of Locust Management (Phase 2)” funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), as part of the FAO “Programme to improve national and regional locust management in Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA).”

A training on locust monitoring and information management -including the Automated System for Data Collection (ASDC) and the Caucasus and Central Asian Locust Management System (CCALM)- Ultra-Low Volume (ULV) technology, pesticide risk reduction and biopesticides use was delivered by FAO Experts in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan. Twenty-eight local experts from 11 locust-affected provinces attended the six-day long theoretical and practical training and participated in lively round-table discussions on all aspects of locust management. In addition to the training materials, all participants received the recently published Moroccan locust in Afghanistan poster (in Dari) and Practical Guidelines on three locust pests in Caucasus and Central Asia - CCA (in English). The training, held on 8-13 February 2025, was supported by the “Project for Improvement of Locust Management” (Phase 2) funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), as part of the FAO “Programme to improve national and regional locust management in CCA”.

Tajikistan and Uzbekistan successfully conducted a locust cross-border survey in their southern common border areas, mainly focusing on the Moroccan Locust. This joint activity took place from 7 to 12 April 2025, with the participation of five locust experts from each country, representing both the central offices and the regions involved, from the State Entity "Locust Control Expedition", Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), Tajikistan, and the Agency on Plant Protection and Quarantine, MoA, Uzbekistan. At the time of the survey, Moroccan Locust hatching had been completed, and hoppers were in their first and second instars in the surveyed areas on both sides of the border; the maximum hopper density observed reached 450-550 individuals per square meter. Control operations had already begun in both countries. On 7-9 April, the participants surveyed 43 000 hectares (ha) in the Districts of Republican Subordination and Khatlon region of Tajikistan. Based on the assessment of the situation, the area potentially to be treated in 2025 will be up to 18 000 ha. On 10-12 April, the survey continued over 47 000 ha in the Surkhandarya region of Uzbekistan, with an estimated 15 700 ha potentially requiring treatment. The countries agreed to continue information exchange and enhance joint efforts for managing this transboundary pest. This coordinated activity was supported by the "Project for improvement of locust management (Phase 2)" in Central Asia, funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), in the framework of the FAO Locust Programme in Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA). 

A locust training was delivered to the benefit of 17 staff from Kazakhstan, pertaining to the Republican Methodological Center for Phytosanitary Diagnostics and Forecasts, Ministry of Agriculture. Delivered by FAO Experts on 31 March-4 April 2025 in Shymkent, the training focused on bio-ecology of the Moroccan, Italian and Asian Migratory locusts and on the basics of the locust preventive strategy, monitoring, information management -including the use of the Automated System for Data Collection (ASDC) and Caucasus and Central Asia Locust Management System (CCALM). This event was implemented with the financial support of the project funded by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as part of the FAO “Programme to improve national and regional management in Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA)”.

Trainings on locust bioecology, monitoring and information management -including the Automated System for Data Collection (ASDC) and the Caucasus and Central Asian Locust Management System (CCALM), were delivered in Uzbekistan in last February and in Turkmenistan in March, by the national Master-Trainers as part of a Training-of-Trainers approach. In Uzbekistan, locust control -including with Ultra-Low Volume (ULV) technology and biopesticides, as well as pesticide risk reduction, were also addressed. More specifically, in Uzbekistan, four national sessions were conducted by the Master-Trainers of the Agency for Plant Protection and Quarantine (APPQ) to a total of 68 participants, in Karshi on 3-5 February, in Gulistan on 10-12 February, in Fergana on 18-20 February, and in Nukus on 24-25 February. In Turkmenistan, the three training sessions, delivered by the Master-Trainers of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Environment, benefited to 49 staff; they were held in Mary on 3-7 March, in Gyzylarbat districts, Balkan, on 17-18 March and in Bakherden, Akhal on 24-25 March. These trainings are deemed as crucial for capacity strengthening, either as refresher courses or for new staff. They were supported by JICA-funded project GCP/INT/384/JCA, as part of the FAO “Programme to improve national and regional locust management in CCA”.