The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) organized a cross-border survey (CBS) between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan locust control agencies on April 4-8, according to FAO Office in Tajikistan. The activities were reportedly held within the FAO Program to Improve National and Regional Locust Management in Caucasus and Central Asia, with the support of the Project for Improvement of Locust Management in Central Asia (Phase 2), funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The CBS is a key activity that allows joint monitoring and evaluation of the locust situation in border areas. It is important for information sharing and to improve coordination with respect to locust control. The CBS also contributes to maintaining a regional technical network and creates a ground for experience exchange between locust specialists. On April 4-5, the first part of the survey occurred in Tajikistan, covering an area of 30,000 hectares in the border districts of the Khatlon province and districts subordinate to the center (RRP). On April 6-8, locust experts visited bordering districts of the Surkhandarya region of Uzbekistan, where about 40,000 hectares were surveyed. FAO reportedly facilitated the event and supported the participation of six staff of the State Entity Locust Control Expedition, Tajikistan and five staff of the Agency on Quarantine and Plant Protection, Uzbekistan. 'The CSB allowed us to strengthen our joint efforts on controlling locusts. During the surveys on both sides of the borders, we could see the situation with locusts and its control, and we agreed on timely sharing and exchanging information,' said Mr. Bakhadir Khudaikulov, the head of the Locust and Mulberry Pyralid Control Department Agency of Plant Protection and Quarantine, Uzbekistan. 'On behalf of myself and on behalf of the CBS participants, I would like to thank FAO and JICA for their continuous support towards improved management of the locusts in the region', added Mr. Firdavs Kadyrov, the deputy head of the State Entity Locust Control Expedition, Ministry of Agriculture of Tajikistan. By conducting CBS activities, the project enhances regional cooperation and coordination among Central Asian countries in managing locust outbreaks. As a result of the initiative, locust control agencies of the two countries signed a protocol on common findings and further steps. They include strengthening locust control and monitoring and constant exchange of information on the development of locusts in the studied bordering areas. FAO commends the collaborative efforts of the Tajik and Uzbek locust control agencies and continues to support the cooperation to improve locust management in Central Asia. Tajikistan's goal with its preventive locust control strategy is to reduce the number of infested and treated hectares, and the negative impacts of control operations on human health and the environment, and also to protect the food security and livelihoods of highly vulnerable rural communities.
Source: Asia-Plus