DUSHANBE, August 3, 2016, Asia-Plus — – A series of national sessions on automated system of data collection (ASDC) use during the locust monitoring and locust spraying took place in regions of Tajikistan from July 12 to July 21.
According to the FAO CO in Tajikistan, these events are part of the FAO Programme to improve national and regional locust management in Caucasus and Central Asia and it is funded by contributions from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The events reportedly concluded theoretical part and practical exercises. During two days locust specialists were updated with standardization of locust information, standard survey and spray monitoring forms, automated system of data collection on locusts (ASDC). There were demonstrated ASDC use the tablet for filling the standard form, its use via WEB interface for filling the hard copy forms, and practice on filling in the FAO standard survey and spray monitoring form using ASDC.
The overall objective of the FAO Programme to improve national and regional locust management in Caucasus and Central Asia is in contributing to food security and livelihood of the rural populations in Central Asia by preventing and limiting the threats posed by locusts and damage to crops and rangelands in the respect of human health and the environment.
The expected outcome of the project is that national and regional locust management will be improved in Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan and in their neighboring countries, through development of increased national capacities and regional cooperation.
