8th Sub-Regional Training Course on Desert Locust Survey and Control Operations

The Desert Locust infestations represent a serious threat to the agricultural production and the food security of a given country. The danger of the Desert Locust is in its constant threat to invade agricultural crops and natural pastures, thus, affecting the livelihoods and human welfare of local communities.

Locusts swarms, indeed, can wipe out crops located hundreds of kilometers from their places of origin and create starvation conditions in regions that are already financially challenged. Desert Locust swarms that occurred at the beginning of 2013, clearly showed how critical monitoring, detection and early operations are in limiting economic and social crisis in countries affected by the infestations.

To reduce the risks on agricultural production and livelihoods of local communities, the FAO Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Central Region (CRC) has been engaged for over 40 years in strengthening surveillance, information sharing and responses to outbreaks across the countries of the region (Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen).

Within this in context, the CRC is organizing the 8th Sub-Regional Training Course on Desert Locust Survey and Control Operations (Muscat, Oman). The training comes as a part of the national, regional and international training plans, that are held on a regular basis, for all the countries concerned. It is also a part of the many training courses and workshops that are aimed at building the technical capacities for Desert Locust staff for achieving effective control against Desert Locust, with minimum negative impact resulting from the use of chemical pesticides, on humans and the environment.

The training will invite Gulf and Sham countries. Two trainees from Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine and Syria will be invited.