Latest Armyworm Forecast (March 2022)
Synopsis
Fall Armyworm (FAW) (Spodoptera frugiperda): FAW infestations persisted in all maize growing regions in Zambia; in Blantyre Agriculture Development Division in Malawi; in Masvingo, Mazowe, Gokwe, Lupane and Hwange areas in Zimbabwe. In Kenya, FAW was reported attacking maize in Narok, Bomet, Kakamega, Bungoma and Busia Counties.
African Armyworm (AAW) (Spodoptera exempta): AAW outbreaks were reported in Tanzania, Malawi, and Kenya where affected farmers carried out control operations with the support from their respective MoAs.
Current situation
Fall armyworm (FAW)
Moderate FAW infestations continued in all 10 Provinces of Zambia. In Zimbabwe, most of the provinces continued reporting mild infestation, and in Malawi, 31 districts with the total area of 240,530.5 ha reported low to moderate infestation with some damage to maize and sorghum. In Narok, Bomet, Kakamega, Bungoma and Busia Counties in Kenya, the pest was reported casing damage to early-planted maize. Control operations were launched by the affected farmers with material and technical support from their respective MoAs. FAW outbreaks were not reported in Mozambique or Tanzania. However, infestations are expected to have occurred in areas were maize and other susceptible crops are in the field.
African Armyworm (AAW)
AAW outbreaks persisted in Morogoro, Arusha, Manyara, Tanga, Dodoma, Lindi, Geita, Katavi, Kilimanjaro, Coastal and Singida regions in Tanzania. Infestations were also reported in Phalombe, Neno, Mulanje, Kasungu and Chiradzulu in Malawi. Mild infestations were reported in Makueni and Taita Taveta counties in Kenya. Control operations were carried out by the affected farmers with material and technical support from their respective MoAs.
Forecasts (for the next 6 weeks)
Fall armyworm (FAW)
FAW will likely persist and continue affecting rain-fed and/or irrigated maize and other crops across sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and elsewhere during the forecast period.
African Armyworm (AAW)
There is a likelihood of AAW infestations continue attacking young and late planted maize and other crops as well as pasture in Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. The pest will likely appear in other infestation countries as well.
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
