Latest Armyworm Forecast from ETOP (January 2020)
Synopsis
Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) (FAW): FAW was reported affecting maize crop in Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is likely that the pest is affecting crops elsewhere.
African Armyworm (Spodoptera exempta) (AAW): AAW outbreaks were reported in Malawi, Zimbabwe and Zambia attacking maize crop during January.
Current situation
Fall armyworm (FAW)
FAW was reported affecting maize crop in Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. MinAgries continued providing technical and material support to the affected farmers to control the pest. Though not reported, the pest is expected to have continued affecting maize and other crops elsewhere (IRLCO-CSA).
African Armyworm (AAW)
AAW outbreaks were reported in Chikwawa district in Shire valley and Lilongwe Agricultural Development Division in Malawi and in Chivhu district (Mashonaland east province), Chiredzi district (Masvingo province), Chegutu district (Mashonaland west province and Gweru district (Midlands province) in Zimbabwe. Control operations were launched by affected farmers with material and technical support from the Ministries of Agriculture (IRLCO-CSA).
Forecasts (for the next 6 weeks)
Fall armyworm (FAW)
FAW will likely continue affecting rain-fed and irrigated maize and other crops across sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, the Pacific Regions and elsewhere during the forecast period. Active monitoring, surveillance, reporting and preventive interventions remain critical to abate the damage.
African Armyworm (AAW)
AAW activities will likely continue in Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Frontline countries are advised to maintain vigilance and intensify monitoring as crops are still vulnerable to damage (IRLCO-CSA, OFDA/PSPM).
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
