False Reports of Locust Outbreak Denied by Ministry of Agriculture Amid Ongoing Control Efforts

The agency reports that false claims and videos about an alleged mass and uncontrollable locust outbreak are circulating online and in the media, reports Orda.kz.

The Ministry of Agriculture asserts that these reports do not reflect the current situation or the actual development stage of the insects.

According to the Ministry, in 2025, locusts are expected to affect up to 2.1 million hectares across Kazakhstan.

596,300 hectares have been treated across 14 regions. The Ministry assures that equipment and pesticide supplies are sufficient. Agriculture Minister Aidarbek Saparov is personally overseeing the situation in the Jambyl, Turkistan, and Qyzylorda regions.

We urge you to be guided only by official sources of information – resources of the Ministry of Agriculture, regional Akimats, and to refrain from publishing unverified data and deliberate disinformation,
 the Ministry of Agriculture stated officially.

On May 27, the Republican headquarters for combating locusts convened a meeting in the government. Official updates indicate that chemical treatment against Moroccan locusts is complete in the Jambyl region and nearing completion in the Turkistan region.

Forecasts predict the most significant spread in Kostanay (650,000 hectares), Aqtobe (512,900 hectares), and West Kazakhstan (134,500 hectares).

Chemical treatments against locusts are also underway in 12 regions — Abay (4,000 hectares), Aqmola (6,000 hectares), Aqtobe (51,900 hectares), Almaty (6,300 hectares), Atyrau (10,100 hectares), East Kazakhstan (1,400 hectares), Jetisu (21,800 hectares), West Kazakhstan (16,200 hectares), Qaraganda (4,500 hectares), Qostanay (40,600 hectares), Ulytau (1,800 hectares), and Qyzylorda (13,100 hectares). In Pavlodar and North Kazakhstan, measures against the Italian locust will begin once affected areas are identified,
 according to the government.

A total of 7.1 billion tenge has been allocated from the republican budget to fight the locust infestation.

During the headquarters meeting, chair Serik Zhumangarin received reports from regions conducting protective efforts.

In the Qyzylorda region, strong winds and the accumulation of larvae in hard-to-reach locations have hindered the use of aerial spraying, requiring more pesticides than initially projected. The Deputy Prime Minister ordered the deployment of ground-based gas generators suited to those conditions, along with an increased supply of pesticides.

This year is at the peak of the natural locust spread cycle, and we must respond rapidly to protect the harvest. We are shifting to weekly meetings of the republican headquarters to promptly address any emerging issues. Following today’s meeting, within the next two days, we will ensure the delivery of necessary pesticides to the Qyzylorda region and the transfer of additional equipment,
 summarized Serik Zhumangarin.

The Ministry of Agriculture had previously clarified that the reports of a locust outbreak in the southern regions are inaccurate, citing that the widely shared footage comes from previous years or was filmed in other countries. 

The Ministry has also filed a lawsuit against a blogger over such misleading posts.

Original Author: Oksana Matvienko