By George Munene
The Fall Armyworm (FAW) is amongst the most devastating pests to Africa’s food systems. In response to this, agriculture nonprofit Land O’Lakes 37 and Villa Crop Protection have prepared freely accessible training modules outlining the appropriate responses smallholder farmers should take to combat this pest.
Research amongst Zimbabwean farm-holders showed that those who failed to implement these control strategies had a 50% lower per capita household income than their counterparts that implemented them.
According to data from the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI), in the absence of any control methods, the Fall Armyworm (FAW), causes maize yield losses of 21–53 per cent in just of 12 of Africa’s maize producing countries annually. This amounts to 8.3 to 20.6 million tonnes; Sh267-Sh666 billion in potential losses.
Related News: Solar insect light trap organically reduces pests by 80%
Related News: ICIPE releases wasp to control Tuta Absoluta pest that causes 100% tomato damage
Smallholder maize growing households blighted by the pests are at a 12 per cent higher risk of experiencing hunger.
The learning modules are meant to equip extension service providers who then disseminate the acquired knowledge and skill on crop protection to smallholder farmers. The information is however open-source; freely accessible to anyone.
Related News: Researchers develop biological Striga pesticide, improves yield 50%
Amongst the key areas the seven module course covers include: Fall Armyworm identification; Chemical and non-chemical controls of FAW, as well as responsible chemical use when combatting FAW.
The materials for each module is freely available for use and download upon registration here: https://agritraining.co.za/login
Related posts:
- Agro firm unveils poultry’s I-2 ND Vaccine Farmers admitting I-2 ND Vaccine to a chicken. It is the only intervention that protects chicken from...
- Experts meet in Nairobi to solve fall armyworm menace in Africa A University of Nebraska diagram showing the features of the fall army worm. Photo...
- Livestock farmers to save Sh160 with cheap foot and mouth vaccine A dairy cow at the 2016 Nakuru ASK Show. farmers could save Sh160 per year...
- Tithonia flowers used to make home-made pesticides in Kitale In December 2015 as I visited my rural home, which is a few kilometers from...
- Attack by two parasites reduces cattle death study A calf infected by two parasites of the same species is more likely to live...
- Poisonous weed destroys 45 per cent of pasture in Kajiado Cattle farmers in Kajiado are staring at insufficient pasture due to an invasive weed that...