FAO is supporting the Government of Lao PDR in its current campaign to control the major outbreak of the Yellow–Spined Bamboo Locust ("Ceracris kiangsu”), which is occurring in 13 districts in the three northern provinces of Phongsali, Luangprabang and Huaphan.  The Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), is collaborating with the provincial and district authorities to avoid the locust causing severe damage to local farmers’ crops.  During the first invasion of the grasshoppers in 2015, over 4,300 ha of crops were damaged or destroyed in the districts of Viengkham and Phonthong in Luang Prabang Province, and the districts of Xorn and Huamuang in Huaphan Province.  The destroyed crops were upland rice, maize and Job’s tears, and almost 3,500 families were affected by the locust outbreak.

More than 25 teams of agricultural are applying insecticide to populations of locust nymphs in the districts of Ngoy, Viengkham, Pakxeng, Phonthong, Phonsay, Pak Ou in Luang Prabang Province, Mai district of Phongsaly Province, and the districts of Xorn and Hiem in Huaphan Province.   The main campaign began in late April and will be completed by the end of June.  Of the total of more than 300 target areas across the three provinces, 30% had already been sprayed by mid-May, and it is expected that the remaining areas will be treated by the end of June.

The Government has provided MAF and the provincial authorities with over US$200,000 for the campaign.  In addition, FAO has provided US$328,000 obtained through a grant from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), which has financed technical advice, a fleet of vehicles, and other support. The Government of China has contributed in the form of 200 backpack spraying machines and 18,000 kg of insecticide.