The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is intensifying its efforts to combat the effects of Fall Armyworm (FAW) in Kenya and across Africa. As part of the Global Action for Fall Armyworm Control (GA), FAO has chosen Kenya as one of eight demonstration countries for implementing measures to protect crops and support farmers through Integrated …
FAO to Establish Fall Armyworm Research Hub in Kenya Read More »
Developed in 2017 by the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), push-pull technology, has been shown to reduce infestation by the devastating fall armyworm by 80 per cent. This is in addition to mitigating the effects of the equally deleterious Stemborer pest and Striga weed. First confirmed in 2016 in Nigeria, by 2020, …
How push-pull technology arrests devastating Fall armyworm, Stemborer & Striga weed Read More »
According to a World Food Programme report on Kenya’s food security outlook; drought, rising fertiliser prices, and armyworm attacks have led to a steep drop in agricultural production. Across marginal agricultural areas, the below-average and poorly distributed long rains resulted in below-average planted acreage and moisture stress. Crop failure was observed in Taita Taveta, Makueni, …
WFP: Drought, fertiliser prices, & armyworm drop Kenya’s agri production Read More »
Scientists at the International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) in partnership with the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Organization have found new wasp species that can eliminate more than 70 per cent of fall armyworm pest. The two wasp varieties Trichogramma and Telenomous when released into affected maize plantations lay their eggs on the …
Scientists discover wasps that can kill 70 per cent of fall armyworm pests Read More »
The government through the ministry of agriculture has announced plans to spend Sh600m to fight Fall Armyworms this season. The money will be disbursed through the newly formed Fall Armyworm Multi-Institutional Technical Team comprising of local researchers, government scientists and international organisations such as the International Livestock Research Institute. This comes at a time when …
Government to spend Sh600m to fight Fall Armyworms Read More »
Farmers in Kenya and Africa at large are set to benefit from a new push-pull technology introduced by the International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology that can stop the fall armyworm menace. The worm has spread to 44 out of 54 countries in sub-Saharan Africa causing losses of $2.2bn to $5.5bn according to CABI. …
Research organization introduces push-pull technology to stop fall armyworm Read More »
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations last week launched a mobile app to combat the fall armyworm menace that has been reported in 44 out of 54 Sub-Saharan African countries including Kenya. A research body, the Center for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI) has warned that the African continent stands to lose …
FAO launches mobile app to control fall armyworm Read More »
The Fall Armyworm (FAW) (scientific name Spodoptera frugiperda) is a moth, native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, but it is the caterpillar that causes damage. It has a voracious appetite, it can reproduce rapidly in favourable conditions, and can spread very quickly using the wind. Whilst much …
Fall Armyworm Status: Impacts and control options in Africa Read More »
Afarmer checks on his maize farm whichj has been attacke by the Fall Armyworm. Biopesticides are a lower risk control option. Photo: VOA The Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI) on 7th September, 2017 confirmed that Fall Armyworm (FAW) has been reported in 28 African countries, following the pest’s arrival …
Africa faces permanent $2bn+ maize deficit if Fall Armyworm poorly managed Read More »
