FALL ARMYWORMS HAVE RESURFACED: SHOULD WE CARE?
…these insects can bring hunger
LAST year, Zambian farmers with the assistance of the government, fought off a vicious attack on the agricultural sector from insects called fall army worms, which target the maize crop.
The notorious and stubborn fall army worm which devastated approximately 170, 000 hectares of crops in Zambia has resurfaced (www.African farming.com).
In the 2016/2017 farming season its fight gobbled millions of Kwachas. Should we care that its recurrence can have telling effects on the economies, trade, food and nutrition security of our country?
So far US$13 billion loss has been recorded on the globe (CABI, 2017). Yield losses of over 70 percent have also been recorded (Hruska and Gould, 1997). Volumes of trade and earnings have reduced in instances where the pest has won. If countries apply trade barriers in the event of an outright pest infestation in one country, that country would definitely lose import earnings. Yields are also lost, thereby robbing the citizenry of adequate food.
ITS GENESIS
The fall armyworm (Spodiotera frugipera) is a devastating pest of maize that is native to tropical and subtropical regions of the western hemisphere from the USA to Argentina.
It was only first reported in Africa in early 2016. Initially from West Aftica: Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Sao Time and Principe (ippc, 2016).
Currently, in July 2017 all SADCC states except Lesotho and Island States have reported the presence of the pest (FAO, 2017).
On the Zambian scene, it is a new pest and is still being studied. The Zambia Agriculture Research Instititute (ZARI) is carrying out studies in this respect. We hope to speed these studies so that interventions may be appropriate (Daka, 2017 unpub.)
IDENTIFICATION MANAGEMENT
The fall armyworm is often confused with the other types of caterpillars. This has led to difficulty in its identification. However, its destruction remains unique. It can feed on different hosts and balloons to diverse hosts.
The scientific name, Spodotera Frugiperda is derived from the feeding habits of the larval life stage. Frugiperda meaning “lost fruit” in Latin. The pest can cause severe damage to crops resulting in massive yield loss. It spreads and eats crops at massive speed causing fruit loss.
Although it shows a strong affinity for the proceae (crops such as maize), it displays a wide host range of over 80 different crops such as Cotton, Wheat, Sorghum, Soya beans, Potatoes, Groundnuts and Sugarcane. Fruit trees and weed species may be its host.
This makes its eradication very difficult. It can thrive on weeds during the non farming seasons and get back to the fresh maize leaves when the crop is planted. This should cause Zambia to be wary of its presence in this framing season.
Its ability to feed on various food types nature presents real challenges in its management.
Adult fall armyworms vary in pattern on wings. They lay eggs between maize leaves or whorls.
In the early stages of infestation, eggs can be seen in masses in leaves especially underneath and may be cream, green, or brown, but the whitish colour of the hair is easily observed on the green leaves. The presence of egg masses plays a significant role in the scouring process.
It then shows up in intervals. Feeding marks are visible as it feeds specifically on one side of the leaves. Its ballooning nature necessitates its ability to infest about 100 percent of crop. They have no control on what plant they land thereby landing on any crops nearby.
The infestation is usually noticed in the late stages. They are usually noticed when they have made large holes accompanied by larval droppings (excrement).
Detection will show caterpillars that hide in whorls of young maize plants. They usually feed on soft tissue like kernels. They rarely feed on mature older leaves. Moths hide in debris and secluded places in the ground as well as in whorls.
Management requires quick action. Farmers are advised to start early. Do not ignore any strange looking caterpillars or eggs on the crop leaves. The best time is when the plant is still very tender as this is the time that the pest can destroy the crop and reduce yields.
People need to report any suspicions to agriculture experts. Insecticides are applied to kill the worm. Agriculture experts know what type of chemicals to use. Applying any chemical that we come across may be dangerous. Seek expert advice. Usually the best time is spraying 3 to 5 days after laying of eggs.
On a national or regional level surveillance has been increased and the Department of Agriculture in collaboration with FAO has been linked to a monitoring
system so as to make decisions on what interventions to take.
Accurate data is needed in making sound decisions and thus information transmission is very important. It is for this reason that FAO has engaged an ICT surveillance system that is being employed in this farming season. This is a welcome intervention which will enhance the management of the pest.
In the 2016/2017 farming season Zambia spent a lot of money in fighting the worm because of late and individual responses. Early and regional responses become very important in minimising cost. The pooling of resources in regional effort is very critical.
ZAMBIA'S CASE
The Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture, crops deputy director, Dr. Alick Daka confirmed its presence in winter maize farms in Serenje and Chongwe. Dr. Daka also notes with pain, the confirmed presence of the fall armyworm on newly grown maize in a Mr. Jonas Matibenga’s farm in Shisholeka village in Chongwe.
The emergent farmer appealed to government for urgent assistance as he had spent all he had on chemicals to save his winter maize. His new crop is also confirmed to be infested. He was thankful for the visit of agriculture officers who advised him on what immediate measures to take. “I have spent all and we desperately need help otherwise our crop is in danger of total attack” Mr. Matibenga said.
“This worm can destroy up to 90 percent of crop if left unchecked. It is highly probable that the fall armyworm which thrives on different leaf crops has crossed over into summer. We need to fight it before it reaches alarming levels,” Dr. Daka said in an interview with the Daily Nation.
In the 2016/2017 farming season, the Fall armyworm ravaged fields in over 100 districts in almost all the 10 provinces of Zambia (www.lapri.org.zm). Should this give us reason to take its reported presence with the seriousness and speed it deserves?
The worm's lightning speed's ability to destroy crops should surely make us act and act with a concerted and collective resolve to thwart its devastative effects.
Dr. Alick Banda, during a FAO-sponsored agriculture camp officers’ training in Chon- gwe, told the officers that, the Fall armyworm was a threat to regional food security.
“It is for this reason that you need to be vigilant and report any presence of the worm in your areas. The FAO has donated trapping devices and will provide tablets which you will need to use to send information to the regional monitoring server at Crop Watch Africa in South Africa. The server is being used to provide timely data on the situation of the worm on the continent. This shows you that the worm is a big problem and we must stand ready to fight it,” Dr. Daka said.
Meanwhile, he told the Daily Nation that, the department had applied for funds from the ministry of Finance to scale up the response. “We have requested for funds from government and we hope our request will be heard so that we get to work before the worm spreads any further Dr. Daka said.
WHEN SHOULD ZAMBIA ACT?
Some expert argument suggests that Fall armyworms require specific threshold levels to grade decision making regarding the economies of pest control as well as other a aspects of pest management.
The density of pest infestation must be estimated so as to act prudently. This school of thought argues that, taking action must consider the economic sense of the intervention. They recommend economically sensible intervention.
Others may argue that action must not wait, even just a single presence of a Fall armyworm must trigger action. This to them may be a sign of an underlying fact that may not be as visible.
When should we act? Should we wait until the worm has covered thousands of farmland? Should we wait for external advice or funding? Why not act on the reports that we are privy to? Prevention is better than cure. It can be argued that, proactive approaches were better than reactive ones.
The fall army worm has resurfaced, should we care?