Continuing its support to the National Food Agency (NFA) of Georgia in locust management, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) provided the NFA with specialized equipment to enhance the effectiveness of locust monitoring over large areas.

As part of the "Programme to improve national and regional locust management in the Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA)," with USAID financial assistance, the new equipment was transferred and tested in the Kakheti region under field conditions. The event was attended by the representatives of FAO, USAID and NFA.

"We have been actively cooperating with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations for years. Within the scope of this cooperation, the pest monitoring system was improved, modern spraying methods were introduced, and highly effective biological preparations were tested to minimize the impact on the environment. Everything helps to manage the population of locusts and prevent significant agricultural losses," said Zurab Lipartia, the Deputy Head of NFA.

“The Programme aims to reduce the occurrence and intensity of locust outbreaks in the CCA, thus limiting threats or damage to crops and rangelands and safeguarding the rural population's food security and livelihoods. To that end, it focuses on developing regional cooperation and strengthening national capacities, including pesticide risk reduction. We are glad that with the assistance of FAO, NFA has implemented a number of important modern technologies and practices in this direction, “ said Mamuka Meskhi, the Assistant FAO Representative in Georgia.

Locusts pose a serious threat to the agriculture of the Caucasus and Central Asian countries, which is a food security issue. Italian and Moroccan locusts, which have the ability to reproduce massively and move quickly, are mainly common in Georgia.

The 'Programme to improve national and regional locust management in the Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA),' has been implemented in Georgia since 2011. With the assistance of FAO, NFA has implemented modern spraying methods in Georgia that involve the use of chemical preparations against locusts in small volumes. New, highly effective biological pesticides have been tested against locusts that can be used, including in protected areas, near water bodies and have minimal impact on human health, the environment, and non-target organisms.

Georgia is the only country in the region that has been monitoring the decay of pesticide residues for 5 years. FAO has also provided a series of training regarding locust management at both regional and local levels in Georgia as well as practical guidelines and other background documentation.

Georgia has been a pioneer in testing and implementing the regional locust GIS in Caucasus and Centra Asia, which allows automated collection of field data and to improve their analysis and forecast, with a view to contribute to early warning at national and regional levels.

By using the new equipment and modern digital tools, the National Food Agency plans to actively implement the spring monitoring of locusts. Taking into account the results, the estimated number of the pest, its distribution area, and intensity will be determined. This will allow to conduct well-targeted locust control operations in order to avoid any negative impact on crops and pastures.