Eighth Meeting of the Ministers of Agriculture of Central Asia

Locusts and grasshoppers are serious threats for agriculture in Central Asia. Three locust pests, the Italian, the Moroccan and the Asian Migratory locusts, jeopardize food security and livelihoods in the region, as they can damage a wide variety of crops as well as rangelands. 

In Central Asia, over 40 million hectares (ha) are surveyed annually, based on which the forecast is also prepared in each country. According to the results of the surveys in 2024, it is estimated that around 4 million ha will be treated in Central Asia this year, which is higher than last two previous years. Currently, locust control in Central Asia is essentially chemical, applying broad-spectrum insecticides to vast locust-infested areas. Most insecticides used to control locusts can have severe negative effects on human health and the environment. Therefore, a shift to more environmentally acceptable biopesticides is essential for sustainable locust control in Central Asia. 

Co-organized by the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan and FAO, the goal of the eight meeting of the ministers of agriculture of Central Asia is to strengthen regional cooperation, share experience, knowledge and lessons learned from locust campaigns. The meeting will also cover the advanced approaches to improve the countries’ capacities and preparedness for better locust management and risk reduction of locust outbreaks.

The objectives of the meeting are to:
• better comprehend locust management by Central Asian countries;
• share examples of good practices within and outside the region for effective locust management at national and regional levels; and
• make suggestions and recommendations for better cross-border and long-term regional cooperation as well as for applying preventive strategies based on robust monitoring and early warning systems and effective and sustainable control techniques, for more resilient and sustainable agriculture and food systems.