Asia

Situation overview

In Central Asia, Southeast and Southwest Asia, as well as China, locusts and grasshoppers pose a significant threat to food security. These regions are home to various economically significant locust species, most notably, the migratory locust (Locusta migratoria). It is predominantly found in China, where the annual infested area exceeds 5 million hectares, as well as in Central Asia (mainly Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan) and Japan. During outbreak years, the population density of migratory locust hoppers can surpass 1000 individuals per square meter.

Iran, Yemen, Oman, Saudi Arabia, India, and Pakistan are home to the desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria). In 2019-2021 these countries suffered a very serious desert locust outbreak. In Vietnam and Lao PDR, the yellow-spined bamboo locust (Ceracris kiangsu) has been a significant issue since 2014. This particular locust species forms extensive swarms in Northern Lao PDR and Vietnam, affecting five and eight provinces respectively. The infestation has led to substantial damage, with approximately 85% of rice yields in Lao PDR being affected.

The Moroccan locust (Dociostaurus maroccanus) is found in the arid foothills of Afghanistan, Iran, South Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. In these regions, it has the potential to infest more than one million hectares of land. Italian locust (Calliptamus italicus) infestations are concentrated in dry steppes across Central Asia, particularly in Kazakhstan. When outbreaks occur, this species has the capacity to infest approximately 10 million hectares of land.

Generally, locust management funding is centralized and strategies for locust control vary among countries. China strongly promotes and practices preventive management, which is mainly based on using biological control and information technology. Other countries in Asia mainly rely on chemical pesticides. Although Metarhizium acridum is being tested in Uzbekistan and is also registered in Kazakhstan.

Organizational relationships

There are various organizations engaged in the management of locusts and grasshoppers in Asia, including transnational bodies such as the FAO, federal agencies, and research universities or institutes. In China, notable research institutions at the national level include the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), China Agricultural University (CAU), and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), along with several provincial institutes. These organizations have been actively involved in locust studies for six decades, receiving funding from sources like the national natural science foundation, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MOA), the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), and other affiliated institutes. The research areas of utmost importance encompass biological control, locust biology, ecology, locust physiology, and molecular biology. China emphasizes foundational research on locusts, particularly in the fields of molecular biology, locust olfaction, and pathology.

In Japan, the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) focuses on researching locusts biology and the mechanisms of phase change. In Israel, there are two institutes dedicated to similar research in the field of locusts. Both countries have made significant progress in understanding locust phase polyphenism. In Kazakhstan, the Kazakh Research Institute for Plant Protection and Quarantine (NIIZKR) in Almaty has a longstanding history of studying locusts and developing monitoring and control techniques. These techniques include the utilization of remote sensing, drones, and bio-pesticides. Similarly, the Uzbek Institute for Quarantine and Plant Protection has extensive experience in locust biological control. Several of the mentioned organizations have established highly effective and long-term collaborations in the field of locust biology and control research. In Iran and Pakistan, agricultural universities such as the Department of Zoology at the University of Sindh in Jamshoro, Sindh-Pakistan, and the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) possess expertise in locust-related matters.

Collaborative management

Within this region, countries are vulnerable to the migratory nature of their problematic locust species. China and Kazakhstan have established a collaborative agreement to address locust control along their borders, which has been maintained for 17 years. All Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan) and Afghanistan actively participate in the Programme to Improve National and Regional Locust Management in Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA). This program has been implemented by the FAO since 2011 and receives joint funding from JICA, Turkey (under the FAO-Turkey Partnership Programme), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), as well as FAO resources (Technical Cooperation Programme and Regular Programme). The primary objective of this program is to diminish the occurrence and severity of locust outbreaks in the Caucasus and Central Asia region, while ensuring the food security and livelihoods of rural populations and minimizing the impact of chemical control operations on human health and the environment.

The program has established a regional technical network to tackle the three primary locust pests: Italian locusts, migratory locusts, and Moroccan locusts. It has also focused on enhancing national capacities in locust management while prioritizing human health and environmental protection. To facilitate effective information sharing between countries, innovative geospatial tools such as the Automated System of Data Collection (ASDC) and the Caucasus and Central Asia Locust Management System (CCALM) locust GIS have been introduced. These tools enable the regular exchange of locust-related information. Additionally, the FAO has been publishing bilingual (English-Russian) regional monthly bulletins during locust campaigns since 2010 and maintains the Locust Watch in Caucasus and Central Asia CCA website as a valuable resource.

The FAO actively supports locust control efforts through the Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) and the Regional Plant Protection Organization (RPPO). The TCP focuses on providing member countries with specialized technical expertise through short-term projects. RPPOs play a crucial role in overseeing and coordinating national plant protection organizations (NPPOs), which directly engage in activities such as plant quarantine, pesticide use, and pest management techniques.

Among the FAO regional desert locust commissions, the FAO Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in South-West Asia (SWAC) (established in 1964) is the oldest and smallest among the three regional commissions. It comprises four member countries, Afghanistan, India, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and Pakistan. SWAC convenes sessions every two years, with each member country taking turns hosting the meetings. The activities conducted by SWAC focus on strengthening the national capacities of its member countries in various aspects related to desert locust management, including surveys, control operations, reporting, training, preparedness, contingency planning, emergency response, bio-pesticides, and health and safety. The commission places great emphasis on intra- and inter-regional collaboration and cooperation, particularly in implementing desert locust early warning systems and preventive control measures. The objective is to minimize the duration, frequency, and intensity of desert locust plagues by working collectively in a coordinated manner.

Regional management strengths and challenges

Strengths

Asia has implemented robust locust management programs, with China leading the way in establishing an effective system. China's program involves regular surveys, forecasting, and control measures, with a particular focus on utilizing biopesticides such as Metarhizium acridum and Paranosema locustae. Various stakeholders at national, provincial, municipal, and county levels are actively engaged in locust management and response processes, ensuring efficient coordination without duplication. This integrated pest management approach has successfully treated locust/grasshopper infestations covering 50,000 to 100,000 hectares annually, while also utilizing chemical pesticides (refer to Li et al., 2023 for further details).

China has also demonstrated its willingness to assist other countries in Asia during locust outbreaks, leading to increased cooperation in locust management. Collaborative mechanisms have been established between China and countries like Lao PDR, Vietnam, Myanmar (for yellow-spined bamboo locust management), and Kazakhstan (for migratory locust management). The FAO Locust Watch program in the Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA) has further enhanced regional cooperation and knowledge sharing among Central Asian countries over the past decade. The CRC, SWAC, and Programme (for CCA locusts) ensure effective coordination, cooperation, and promotion of innovative tools and technologies for monitoring and control.

Most countries in the region rely on their own funding for locust management, reducing their dependency on external donors. Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have even established specialized national locust control organizations responsible for surveying and managing locust populations.

Challenges

The upsurge of the desert locust from 2019 to 2021 highlighted the variability in locust management programs across different countries. Some countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Iran, responded swiftly to the upsurge, initiating control measures shortly after it began in early 2019. In contrast, countries like Pakistan and India initially faced challenges due to limited funding and resources, leading to a slower response. However, once the necessary resources were secured in 2020, their treatment programs proved to be highly successful.

Regional conflicts in certain areas posed significant obstacles to effective desert locust control programs. These conflicts severely hindered control efforts and added complexities to the already challenging task of managing locust populations. Another hindrance to implementing effective locust control measures is the inconsistent funding for research and development. This limitation prevents the widespread adoption of the latest technologies tailored to the specific needs of each country.

The transboundary nature of locust species such as L. migratoria, S. gregaria, and C. kiangsu underscores the growing importance of regional cooperation. However, achieving such cooperation can be exceedingly difficult in regions with ongoing instability and conflicts. Political disputes between certain countries create barriers to locust monitoring and management, particularly in border areas. In 2022, the situation in Afghanistan precluded international involvement and assistance through the United Nations.

Even in relatively stable regions, there is significant variation in the capacity of countries to effectively manage locust populations. This variation arises from several factors, including limited resources during periods of economic downturn, insufficient knowledge of the latest technologies, and, perhaps most crucially, a lack of consistent funding. As a result, some countries heavily rely on donor funding during locust outbreaks, making their management efforts highly dependent on external support.

Certain countries, such as Lao PDR and Pakistan, face financial constraints when it comes to locust management due to low state revenues. Additionally, the shortage of entomologists, particularly specialists in locust management, further hampers their ability to respond promptly. These resource limitations result in longer response times, whether from local or international funding sources, allowing locust populations to escalate to much higher levels before effective management measures can be implemented.

To address these challenges, the region needs to strengthen collaborative monitoring and forecasting efforts. It is crucial to extend control campaigns to neighboring countries when highly migratory locust species experience outbreaks. By enhancing coordination and cooperation, countries can collectively work towards timely and effective locust management, minimizing the impact of locust outbreaks on agricultural and food security.