National demonstration/trial on biopesticides use against locusts organized in Kyrgyzstan
Bishkek – For the first time ever in Kyrgyzstan, demonstration trials are being carried out with biopesticides against locusts, by the Department of Chemicalization, Plant Protection and Quarantine of the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic (DCPPQ), and with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Kyrgyzstan is affected mainly by the Italian and Moroccan locusts, which can create severe damage to agriculture if not managed properly. Locust treatments are so far being conducted with chemicals, which are efficient but affect non-target organisms and can also have negative impact on human health. Instead, the biopesticide based on fungus Metarhizium acridum attacks only locusts and grasshoppers, with no negative impact on human health and the environment. in addition of being efficient. It is however relatively slow acting as it can take from 4 to 21 days to achieve the required effects, depending on the developmental stage of locusts. Although it cannot fully replace chemical treatments, especially in case of locust emergency, its use is highly recommended by FAO, especially but not limited to in ecologically sensitive areas.
With a view to promote the use of such biopesticide, a three-day demonstration/trial was organized on 22-24 May in Panfilov district of Chuy region of Kyrgyzstan. Twenty hectares of fields and pastures infested by young hoppers of Italian Locust (Calliptamus Italicus) were treated, with the assistance of an FAO Expert on biopesticides, who also delivered on-the-job training to the benefit of 15 participants at this occasion. Close monitoring of locust mortality was ensured afterwards by DCPPQ specialists.
The activities in Panfilov district concluded with a round table held on 5 June to discuss the achieved results, lessons learnt and recommendations and peculiarities of biopesticides use. It was organized by FAO in Bishkek, gathering 20 persons representing the Ministry and other national stakeholders involved in locust management as well as representatives of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The results of the treatments with biopesticides were excellent: nearly 100 % mortality was recorded after 11 days in cages.
“Biological pesticides prove to offer a reliable and less harmful alternative for controlling locusts before they reach crisis levels, in situations when the timing allows for their use,” said Almaz Alakunov, Head of Plant Protection and Control Division of DCPPQ. “They also offer a solution for treating outbreaks in fragile ecosystems. We will continue testing them against locusts.”
The use of safer products is even more important as locusts are becoming even more dangerous due to their opportunity to take advantage of climate changes, which may result in increasing threat.
“One major benefit of biopesticides is that they are designed to target specific kinds of insects only,” said Cholpon Alibakieva, National Chief Technical Advisor at the FAO Representation in Kyrgyzstan. “That means biopesticides for locust control don’t affect other “good” insects, which can continue going about their business pollinating plants and supporting the local ecosystem.”
To be effective, any crop and rangeland protection treatment should be applied at the right moment, in the right place. It is true that biopesticides take longer to work than conventional chemicals, and habit and convenience are other obstacles to wider use; however, none of these aspects are insurmountable, experts say.
Currently, the region treats an average of 3.7 million hectares of land with chemical pesticides each year. To support sustainable locust management, following regional demonstrations organized by FAO in 2023 for Caucasus and Central Asia countries, national demonstrations are organized in several countries in the region during the 2024 campaign. To that end, biopesticides are being delivered by FAO also to Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, and technical support is being provided, in the framework of the FAO “Programme to improve national and regional locust management in Caucasus and Central Asia”, with financial support by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
