Al-Rumais, Sultanate of Oman - The Islamic Organisation for Food Security (IOFS) participated in the Specialized Regional Training on the Use of Drones in Desert Locust Control from 25-29 January, organized by the FAO-CRC and CLCPRO commissions, in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources of the Sultanate of Oman.
IOFS was represented by Dr. Abdelaziz HAJJAJI, Programme Manager, who highlighted the strategic importance of modern locust surveillance and control technologies for safeguarding food security. Locusts remain one of the most serious transboundary threats to agricultural production, capable of rapidly devastating crops and livelihoods across borders.
The training strengthens national and regional capacities from 15 IOFS Members States in the use of drones for early warning, monitoring, and precision control, marking a major step toward faster, more effective, and environmentally responsible responses to locust outbreaks. Such innovations are critical to reducing crop losses and preventing food crises in vulnerable regions.
IOFS reaffirmed its commitment to advancing transboundary pest management programmes, working closely with other partners to address locust risks across Central Asia, Africa, and the MENA region, in line with its mandate to enhance resilience, protect agricultural systems, and promote sustainable food security.
