Kazakhstan bolsters efforts to tackle locust outbreaks
The Central Asian country of Kazakhstan has been facing gregarious locust outbreaks in several regions this year, posing a threat to farmland and crops. Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin recently led a meeting of the central operational headquarters on June 10 to discuss insect control measures, as reported by the Prime Minister’s press service.
Various regions are closely monitoring the situation and swiftly deploying equipment and increased quantities of pesticides to areas where treatment needs to be intensified. The situation in the Turkistan Region is particularly challenging due to the heat and the spread of locusts covering an additional 60,000 hectares. By June 10, approximately 45,300 hectares had already been treated.
According to Svetlana Yatsyuk, an agricultural sciences candidate and specialist at Shchelkovo Agrokhim-KZ LLP, Kazakhstan is home to three types of gregarious locusts – Italian, Asian, and Moroccan. These species are categorized as especially dangerous locust organisms and pose a significant threat to crops, pastures, and hay harvest during their mass reproduction years.
The cyclical development of gregarious locusts results in pest outbreaks occurring approximately every decade. Yatsyuk emphasized the importance of timely extermination measures, noting that preparations for controlling and destroying these harmful locust varieties were procured and planned well in advance this year.
Efforts to combat the locust outbreaks are underway throughout the country, with a focus on minimizing the impact on agricultural production and preventing significant economic losses. The proactive approach to insect control reflects the government’s commitment to safeguarding the country’s farmland and crops from the destructive effects of gregarious locusts.
