Uzbekistan will host the Technical Workshop on Locust Management in Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA), bringing together delegations from ten countries to strengthen early warning systems, enhance coordinated response measures, and exchange best practices to limit the threat posed by locust outbreaks in the region.

The event is organized under the FAO “Programme to improve National and Regional Locust Management in CCA”, with support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

This workshop is highly relevant for Uzbekistan, where more than 570,000 hectares of land have been treated in 2025, as well as for all other CCA countries, where about 3.9 million hectares have been controlled overall. In Uzbekistan, the most infested regions were Kashkadarya, Jizzakh, and Surkhandarya. They experienced increased locust activity, driven by climatic factors such as warmer temperatures and irregular precipitation patterns, which create favorable breeding conditions. These trends highlight the need for improved monitoring, timely intervention, and international cooperation.

Representatives from Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Russia will present the results of their 2025 national locust control campaigns and discuss forecasts for 2026. Particular attention will be given to cross-border surveys, harmonized regional bulletins on locust situation, and improved data sharing and analysis, including through the use of the Geographic Information System – essential elements for preventing and coordinating locust management in a region where pests frequently move across national borders.

The workshop will also focus on modern tools and methods. Countries will review pilot applications of the biopesticide Metarhizium acridum and the use of drones for monitoring and spraying. With chemical treatments still widely used, participants will discuss strategies to reduce environmental and public health risks, including updated human health & environment monitoring.

As locust outbreaks continue to threaten crops, pastures, and rural livelihoods across Central Asia and the Caucasus, FAO and participating countries emphasize the importance of national training programmes, updated scientific resources, strengthened contingency plans, and long-term investment in surveillance systems such as ASDC and CCALM. Workshop sessions will also address the joint Programme of Work for 2026, discuss the establishment of a permanent regional body on locusts in CCA, and explore avenues for resource mobilization.

In this respect, Shoki Al Dobai, Team Leader of the FAO “Locusts and Transboundary Plant Pest and Disease Team” stressed the following: “Strong commitment from all stakeholders, including resource partners, is essential to leverage the momentum built up over the years and to consolidate and expand the progress made, towards sustainable locust management at both national and regional levels in CCA”.

Since its inception in 2011, the FAO CCA Locust Programme has played a critical role in supporting countries in preventing significant upsurges, safeguarding agricultural production, and protecting vulnerable rural communities. The 2025 workshop in Uzbekistan marks another important step in advancing coordinated regional preparedness and response.

UzA