Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan to integrate systems in the fight against locusts

As part of the 55th meeting of the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) Working Group, officials from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan held a trilateral meeting to discuss collaborative measures against locust outbreaks. The gathering was attended by Saken Kanibekov, Acting Chairman of Kazakhstan's State Control Committee, along with the heads of the phytosanitary services of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. The meeting was reported by the press service of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture.

During the meeting, participants reviewed current practices for combating seasonal insect infestations in their respective countries. Notably, the “Locust.uz” system was presented—an electronic platform designed to monitor and manage locust control efforts. The system logs data on egg-laying zones, areas treated with pesticides, and includes GPS tracking of specialized equipment. This enables authorities to assess situations in real time and take prompt action to prevent the spread of locusts across large territories.

As a result of the discussions, the three countries agreed to intensify regional cooperation, adopt international phytosanitary standards, and strengthen mechanisms for information exchange.

“The parties will give particular attention to cooperation in the rapid exchange of data concerning locust control in border regions, the phytosanitary situation, research findings, the spread of harmful organisms, and measures taken,” the joint statement reads.

The nations also plan to integrate their digital information systems to ensure the efficient and consistent exchange of data on phytosanitary certificates.