Locust survey in Caucasus and Central Asia

Locusts and grasshoppers are serious threats for agriculture in Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA). Three locust pests, the Italian (CIT), the Moroccan (DMA) and the Migratory (LMI) locusts, jeopardize food security and livelihoods in both regions as well as in adjacent areas of northern Afghanistan and southern Russian Federation. Early warning and early reaction are essential to prevent or limit damage to crops and rangelands, thus impact on food security. Monitoring of locust populations is required to allow early detection of changes in locust behavior, appearance, numbers and density and as such is crucial to anticipate population increase and outbreak. Locust monitoring is ensured by survey operations, during which a wide range of field data is collected. To facilitate the collection, transmission and analysis of standardized chrono-, geo- and taxo- referenced locust field data, the Automated System for Data Collection (ASDC) was developed together with the Geographic Information System (GIS) entitled “Caucasus and Central Asia Locust Management System (CCALM)”, as part of the FAO “Programme to improve regional and national locust management in CCA”. ASDC, an application available on mobile phones and tablets operated with Android and via web, is based on standard FAO Locust Survey and Spray Monitoring Forms. Once fully used in all or most CCA countries, ASDC and CCALM are expected to play a key role in early warning and early reaction on locust situations.