The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) conducted a regional Training-of-Trainers on locust management for 23 specialists from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. It was organized in Kakheti, Georgia, in September 2022, as part of the project “Reducing risks of locust disasters in Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA)“ supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The project aims at reducing risks of locust disasters in CCA countries by improving locust management, including through the use of modern early data collection and warning systems and better response to locust infestations. The objective of the Training-of-Trainers is to transfer knowledge as well as teaching skill and tools to Master-Trainers who should in turn be able to deliver trainings.

„Locusts are one of the most serious threats to agriculture in Caucasus countries. During the outbreaks, the locust pests attack vegetation rangelands and cultivated crops. They can cause severe damage and threaten food security and livelihood of the rural populations. It is of great importance to combat those threats and support local specialists by training and information,” said Mamuka Meskhi, Assistant Representative of FAO in Georgia.

“Projects related to locust management have been implemented in Georgia since 2009. FAO has been helping us with locust control measures. When there were the locust outbreaks in 2010, we received trainings and equipment for control and management. Since locusts are migratory pests, they can easily move from one country to another and fight against locusts would not be effective without regional cooperation. It is of great importance that through FAO, the Caucasus countries communicate with each other and exchange information about the progress of the campaign,” said the training participant Bezhan Rekhviashvili, Head of Plant Quarantine Division of National Food Agency of Georgia.

The Training-of-Trainers for experts from south Caucasus, which took place in 12‑23 September, 2022, included two sessions: one on locust monitoring and information management, including the Automated System for Data Collection (ASDC) and the Caucasus and Central Asia Locust Management System (CCALM); and the other on spraying and pesticide risk reduction. They were delivered by highly specialized FAO experts. As a next step, the Master-Trainers who took part in the training will organize similar sessions at the national levels, to the benefit of other locust staff.

The Training-of-Trainers in Georgia took place in close cooperation with the National Food Agency of Georgia.