China and Kazakhstan conducted a joint investigation on locust incidence and inspected locust control in border areas in Xinjiang during June 28-July 4, 2014. The Chinese team was headed by Mr. Chen Shengdou, Director-General of MOA National Agricultural Technology Extension and Service Center and DG of the Office of Locust Prevention & Control Headquarters of MOA (Office), and was composed of experts from the Office and National Animal Husbandry Service.
Meeting with Kazakh experts
Chen had a meeting with Kazakh experts who were in Xinjiang for joint investigation in Habahe County of Altay. Officials from the Department of Animal Husbandry, Office of Locust and Rodent Control Headquarters and Plant Protection Service of Xinjiang Autonomous Region also attended the meeting. At the meeting, the two sides briefed each other on locust incidence and control in border areas this year, and shared expertise on locust control technologies. In his speech, Chen stressed that MOA attaches importance to locust control in border areas. Due to bio-ecological characteristics (adaptability, flexibility and reactivity), locust remains a threat in the context of climate change. Therefore, Chen called relevant departments to deepen and broaden cooperation in locust surveillance and control to reduce the risk posed by migratory swarms of locust.
Visiting locust control technicians
The joint team paid a field visit to the border areas. During the tour, the experts learnt about locust incidence, inspected on-site control activities, visited control workers and listened to the report on the building of artificial nests to attract rosy starling, a predatory bird used in locust control.
Inspection on artificial nest-building
Field inspection of locust incidence
The result of joint investigation showed that due to this year's lower temperature in border areas between China and Kazakhstan, the eggs of the three main locust species in this region--Asiatic Migratory Locust, Italian Locust and Siberian Locust--develop into nymphs ten days later than species in other regions. Locust incidence is stable in general and the control activities are in full swing.
China-Kazakhstan joint control over locust plays a positive role in increasing friendship of the two nations, maintaining stability in border areas and protecting crop and livestock production in both countries.