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Biopesticide Trials in Kyrgyzstan Pave Way for Greener Locust Control

Between June 10 and 13, Kyrgyzstan conducted a national trial of biological pesticides in the northern Chuy region, marking a step forward in the country’s push toward environmentally responsible locust management. The trial was led by the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and FAO’s own resources. The initiative is part of the broader “Programme to Improve National and Regional Locust Management in the Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA),” which aims to shift countries away from reliance on chemical pesticides. According to the FAO, biopesticides, particularly those using the Metarhizium acridum fungus, are emerging as an effective, selective alternative to chemical treatments. These biological agents target locusts and grasshoppers without harming humans or non-target species such as pollinators, birds, and aquatic life. Kyrgyzstan regularly faces locust threats from two species: the Moroccan locust and the Italian locust. Both are capable of rapid reproduction and forming large swarms that can severely damage crops and pastures. “Biological pesticides offer a safer alternative for controlling locusts before they reach crisis levels,” said Oleg Guchgeldiyev, FAO Representative in Kyrgyzstan. “They are especially useful for fragile ecosystems. Continued testing will enhance scientific and technical capacity, paving the way for a more resilient agricultural sector.” Field trials are a critical step toward integrating biopesticides into national locust control strategies. The urgency of the initiative is underscored by recent government data. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, the Ministry of Agriculture surveyed 114,000 hectares earlier this month and found locusts present on nearly two-thirds of the land. More than 74,000 hectares have already been treated with pesticides. The infestation has been particularly severe in southern regions, where early harvest cycles and warm temperatures create ideal conditions for locust breeding. By embracing biopesticides, Kyrgyzstan hopes to reduce environmental risks while maintaining effective pest control, balancing agricultural productivity with ecological responsibility.

Locust Infestations Agricultural cooperation locusts Agriculture

Central Asian Nations Boost Joint Fight Against Locusts

Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan have committed to strengthening their cooperative efforts in combating locust infestations. The agreement emerged during the 55th meeting of the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) working group, where officials from the three nations convened to enhance collaboration, adhere to international plant health standards, and expedite information exchange. According to Kazinform, Saken Kanybekov, acting head of Kazakhstan’s State Inspection Committee, engaged in discussions with his counterparts from Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, sharing insights and experiences on managing seasonal locust outbreaks. A key innovation introduced at the meeting was Locust.uz, an online platform developed by Uzbekistan. This system maps locust egg-laying sites and pesticide spraying operations, utilizing GPS tracking to monitor equipment movement. This functionality enables experts to rapidly assess situations and respond swiftly, aiming to prevent the widespread dissemination of locusts. The three countries pledged increased focus on border areas, which are common pathways for pest migration. They plan to regularly exchange updates on locust conditions, research findings, and ongoing control measures. A further objective is to integrate their digital systems to facilitate more effective data sharing, including plant health certificates. The Times of Central Asia previously reported on Kazakhstan's broader efforts to bolster cooperation with neighboring countries, including Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Russia, and China, to curb locust outbreaks. Joint inspections along the Kazakh-Uzbek border have, to date, found no signs of infestation. Kazakhstan is also closely monitoring its northern border with Russia and has scheduled additional inspections in other regions for June. As of June 2, Kazakhstan had surveyed over 6.1 million hectares of farmland, representing 35.6% of its target, and treated nearly 1 million hectares with pesticides. The country has deployed a significant arsenal of 443 spraying units, including 55 ultralight aircraft and 49 agricultural drones, to manage the pest. Locust-damaged land in Kazakhstan has seen a notable increase, rising from 514,000 hectares in 2020 to 1.6 million hectares in 2023, with projections indicating a further rise in 2024. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warns that over 25 million hectares of farmland and 20 million people across Central Asia and the South Caucasus are at risk from locust threats.

locust migration Locust Infestations Agricultural cooperation locusts

Kazakhstan Joins Regional Efforts to Control Locust Infestations

Recognizing that locust migration transcends national borders, Kazakhstan is strengthening cooperation with neighboring countries, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Russia, and China, to monitor and mitigate the threat of locust outbreaks. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture has launched joint monitoring operations with Kyrgyzstan to survey border regions for signs of grasshopper swarms, which pose a serious risk to agricultural production. Deputy Minister of Agriculture Ermek Kenzhekhanuly confirmed that early assessments have not identified any immediate threat of locust migration into Kazakhstan from the south. “We have begun joint monitoring with the Kyrgyz side along sections of our southern border. While major infestations are concentrated in southern Kyrgyzstan, no threat of locust movement toward Kazakhstan has been detected so far,” said Kenzhekhanuly. Earlier, similar inspections were carried out along the Kazakh-Uzbek border, with no outbreaks reported to date. Kazakhstan is also actively monitoring its northern border with Russia. Surveys have already been completed in the Abay and North Kazakhstan regions, with no evidence of locust spread. Additional monitoring is scheduled for June in the Aktobe, Atyrau, West Kazakhstan, Kostanay, East Kazakhstan, and Pavlodar regions. To date, there have been no confirmed cases of locust activity near Kazakhstan’s border with China. As of June 2, Kazakhstan has surveyed 6.1 million hectares of farmland, 35.6% of its target area for 2025 and has treated 971,500 hectares with pesticides, representing 46.3% of the planned 2.1 million hectares designated for potential infestation. To combat locust outbreaks, Kazakhstan has deployed 443 units of spraying equipment, including 55 ultralight aircraft and 49 agricultural drones. In Kyrgyzstan, the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry has similarly declared no current threat of locust incursion. Joint monitoring efforts with Uzbekistan have not identified risks in border regions. However, Kyrgyz authorities reported localized infestations covering 60,000 hectares across multiple regions in late May. Aerial and ground-based pesticide treatments have been deployed in response. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), locust outbreaks threaten over 25 million hectares of farmland across Central Asia and the South Caucasus, impacting the livelihoods of approximately 20 million people.

Karakurt Spider Saiga agricultural risks Kazakh Floods locusts

Wildlife Boom Pits Nature Against Farmers in Kazakhstan

Last year, Kazakhstan experienced the worst flooding the area had seen in some 80 years. Reservoirs and creeks that had been dry for decades were suddenly filled. This year, winter was mild, and spring arrived early, creating ideal conditions for an explosion of fauna. The Saiga The unique-looking saiga antelope has roamed the vast steppe of the area that is now Kazakhstan for millennia. About 25 years ago, there were concerns the animal, which usually numbered in the millions, was headed toward extinction. Widespread poaching started after independence in late 1991, and by 2005 there were less than 40,000 saiga left in the country. A ban on hunting saiga helped boost the population to some 250,000 by the mid-2010s, but then bacteria spread through the herds, greatly reducing their numbers again. Renewed efforts to increase the saiga population proved successful, however, perhaps too successful. By 2021 their number had risen to some 842,000, and by the summer of 2022, there were more than 1.3 million saiga antelope in Kazakhstan. Officials were warning back in 2022 that the saiga were competing with farmers’ herds for pastureland. Kazakhstan’s then-Ecology Minister Serikkali Brekeshev noted at the time that the growth rate was worrying as the saiga population was only some 110,000 in 2016. Brekeshev suggested a cull of 80,000 of the antelope was necessary. However, Kazakhstan was receiving a lot of international praise for bringing the saiga off the endangered list. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev reprimanded Brekeshev and ordered the ecology minister to find another way to deal with the problem. Limited culling of saiga was allowed starting in October 2023 but was again banned in February 2024. The saiga population was back in the news at the end of May this year. Kazakhstan’s Mazhilis, the lower house of parliament, discussed the issue on May 27. Deputy Ecology Minister Nurken Sharbiyev told a Mazhilis’ committee on agriculture that the saiga population continued to proliferate, numbering some 2.8 million in 2024 and now totaling nearly 4 million. Herd owners in West Kazakhstan Province say the saiga are taking over pastureland in at least seven districts. There are also concerns that the saiga are mixing with cows and sheep in the fields and infected saiga might be spreading diseases among the herders’ animals. Farmers in Akmola Province have formed groups to try to chase the saiga from agricultural fields but with mixed success. Locals complain that the large herds block roads and linger even when drivers honk their horns. Smaller creatures than the Saiga are also thriving due to the favorable weather conditions. The Usual Suspects The combination of abundant water and warm weather has proven efficacious to the spread of some insects. Locusts are a perennial threat to crops across Central Asia. This year, in some parts of Kazakhstan, they are spreading so quickly that the authorities are having difficulties combating them. Farmers in Aktobe Province say equipment for battling locusts has been breaking down and the pesticides being used are not producing the desired...

locusts Kazakhstan Agriculture

Kazakhstan Poised to Battle Bombardment of Locusts

At a government meeting on locust control on March 28th, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Azat Sultanov reported that this year, locust swarms are predicted to hit 2.5 million hectares of agricultural land in Kazakhstan, compared to 1.6 million hectares in 2023. The largest locust invasions are expected in the regions of Aktobe (784 thousand hectares), Kostanay (776 thousand hectares), and Turkestan (271 thousand hectares). The country currently has enough stock of pesticides to treat 1.1 million hectares of land. Including pre-orders of chemicals to cover a further 323.6 thousand hectares, and new contracts to treat 607.5 thousand hectares, the central warehouse will be equipped to treat 2.09 million hectares by April 20th. The southern Turkestan region will likewise, begin treating its territory with chemical treatments against locusts at the end of the month. Kazakhstan has seen a drastic increase in agricultural land being hit by locusts, rising from 514,000 hectares in 2020 to 1.6 million hectares in 2023, and is expected to peak in 2024. According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, locust outbreaks pose a severe threat to agriculture in the South Caucasus and Central Asia, with more than 25 million hectares and 20 million people in the region rendered vulnerable by damage inflicted by these migratory pests.

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Kazakhstan Tries To Ward Off Locust Invasion

Kazakhstan has allocated an additional $8.9m to protect the country’s crops and people from locust swarms. The money will be spent on chemical treatments to stop the short-horned grasshoppers from damaging pastures and destroying crops, as well as to prevent the swarms from migrating to neighboring countries, the government said on January 31st. Kazakhstan has seen a drastic increase in the area of agricultural land hit by locusts, from 514,000 hectares in 2020 to 1.6 million hectares in 2023. The years 2023 and 2024 will be the peak of an 11-year locust cycle in the country; the government forecasts that 2.5 million hectares will be affected this year. According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, locust outbreaks are a severe threat to agriculture in the South Caucasus and Central Asia, with more than 25 million hectares and 20 million people in the region vulnerable to damage done by the migratory pests. Locusts multiply, form groups, and migrate over relatively large distances — they can fly up to 100km per day, settle and breed in various habitats, and are highly adaptable to the impact of climate change.