News

Updates from the Armyworm Network
07
Feb

Latest Armyworm Forecast from ETOP (January 2019)

Synopsis

Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) (FAW): FAW outbreaks were reported in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi and control operations were carried out by the affected farmers with technical and material assistance from the MinAgries.

African Armyworm (AAW) (Spodoptera exempta): Moderate AAW outbreaks were reported in maize fields in Zimbabwe during January.

Current situation

Fall armyworm (FAW)

In Malawi, FAW outbreaks were reported affecting crops in Lilongwe, Machinga, Blantyre, Shire Valley, Karonga, Kasungu, Muzuzu and Salima Agricultural Development Divisions (ADD). Infestation levels were reported mild to moderate with estimated 162 825 ha of maize, sorghum and millet being infested. Control was carried out by the affected farmers with technical and material assistance from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. By the end of January, over 10 000 lts of pesticides had been reported distributed to the affected areas (IRLCO-CSA).

In Mozambique FAW outbreaks were reported affecting most of the provinces and a total of 196 ha had been reported attacked in Sofala province. Control was carried out by the affected farmers with material and technical assistance the the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (IRLCO-CSA).

In Zimbabwe, widespread outbreaks of FAW occurred in most of the provinces while minor outbreaks of African Armyworm were reported in Manicaland and Mashonaland West Provinces. The pests were reported attacking mainly maize. Limited damage occurred due to timely control and farmers’ sensitization by the Ministry of Agriculture staff. Control was carried out by affected farmers using pesticides supplied by the Ministry of Agriculture.

In Zambia, FAW outbreaks were reported in all nine provinces. The caterpillars were reported attacking maize crop. The damage to the crop was reported to be mild to moderate. Control was carried out by the affected farmers using inputs provided by the Ministry of Agriculture.

African Armyworm (AAW)

Moderate AAW outbreaks were reported in maize fields in Zimbabwe during January (IRLCO-CSA).

Forecasts (for the next 6 weeks)

Fall armyworm (FAW)

FAW will continue occurring in IRLCO-CSA member-states, including Malawi, Mozambique Zambia and Zimbabwe. It may also appear in Kenya, Tanzania and other countries in the region during the forecast period. The pest will also appear in irrigated and rainfed maize and other crops across several regions in Africa and Asia where the cropping season is in progress and/or has kicked in (IRLCO-CSA, OFDA/PSPM).

African Armyworm (AAW)

AAW outbreaks are likely to continue in Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe affecting late planted cereal crops and may begin appearing in Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya. Trap operators are advised to continue collecting moth catches and share trap data with the national forecasting officers.Active surveillance and appropriate preventive interventions remain critical to avoid major crop damage (OFDA/AELGA).

Acknowledgements

This forecast is published by Lancaster University’s Armyworm Network: http://www.armyworm.org/. It is an extract from the Emergency Transboundary Outbreak Pest (ETOP) situation report compiled by USAID/OFDA/PSPM. They monitor ETOPs regularly in close collaboration with their network of national PPDs/DPVs, regional and international pest monitoring and/or control entities, including FAO, CLCPRO, CRC, DLCO-EA, and IRLCO-CSA, as well as Agency partners, and NGOs and provides timely analytical bulletins and reports to stakeholders across the globe. For dated, archived ETOP SITREPs, please, go to: https://www.usaid.gov/what-wedo/working-crises-andconflict/responding-times-crisis/how-wedo-it/humanitarian-sectors/agricultureand-food-security/pest-and-pesticidemonitoring/archive

 

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