FAO supports Tajikistan to combat locust infestations

DUSHANBE, February 10, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has provided assistance to the State Unitary Enterprise “Locust Control” at the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) of Tajikistan.

An official source at a MoA says the assistance has been provided in the framework of the FAO regional project, Combating Locusts in the Caucasus and Central Asia in 2012.

One satellite communications apparatus, five GPS (Global Positioning System) navigation devices, 20 Ulva hand-held sprayers, five AI-800 sprayers, one AI-8115 sprayer and three pairs of equipment for observers have been handed over to Locust Control for distribution to the most locust-prone regions, the source added.

An Emergency Coordination Unit (ECU) was established by FAO in Tajikistan in 1996, initially to work on emergency locust control projects.  Since then, the emergency program has expanded steadily and has set-up veterinary field units, improved agricultural infrastructure and strengthened domestic seed production.  FAO’s work in Tajikistan has shifted its focus from emergency relief towards sustainable development.