Kazakhstan is deploying a fleet of over 100 agricultural drones this season to fight swarming locusts.

This year, 46 drones will be used for targeted chemical treatment of farmland, while the fleet continues to expand for monitoring and rapid pest control, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

Locusts in Kazakhstan can spread across steppe, desert, mountain, and river floodplain zones-areas often difficult for ground equipment to reach.

The drones allow for faster detection of outbreaks, better monitoring efficiency, and wider coverage of affected areas. Specialists have inspected each drone for flight safety, spraying accuracy, and control stability, ensuring the fleet is ready for immediate deployment.

The Phytosanitary Safety and Forecasts Methodological Center has dramatically increased its capabilities. From just seven drones last year, the center now operates 57 drones after acquiring 50 additional units in December 2025.

Last year, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan joined forces to curb locust spread, and Kazakhstan continues to invest in national preparedness-allocating 7.1 billion tenge from the state budget for locust control measures.