By Jeff Kapembwa

FALL army worms-catalysed by necessity of dry spells in low rain patterns-a climate change action-have returned to Zambia and threaten the 2024-25 farming season as over 10,000 hectares of land in several parts of the country are being eaten up, a call for crop diversification and accelerating  extension services.

In Eastern and Northern Zambia’s Katete, Kalulushi, Mpongwe, Mumbwa and Shibuyunji in south of Zambia, among other areas, Fall Army Worms, scientifically referred to as (Spodoptera frugiperda) have invaded various fields.

It has affecting over 10,000 hectares of planted land, devastating the staple food, raising fears of another potential hunger, already with the slow rains characterizing most parts of the country.

Copperbelt Province Permanent Secretary Augustine Kasongo says all districts in the province have been affected by fall armyworms. The damage caused is estimated at 30 percent, with Lufwanyama, Mpongwe and Masaiti districts being the worst affected, he is cited as saying a local radio station.

He however indicated that government through the ministry of agriculture has mobilized 5000 litres of armyworm chemicals to be distributed to all the districts in the province. He urges farmers in the area not to despair as extension officers have been assigned on the ground to try and mitigate the problem through sensitization and early detection.

The Government has mobilised 5,000 litres of chemicals for distribution to all the districts in the province and those in need of the chemical are advised to reach out to various agricultural authorities in the region to plug the flying army worms.

“The chemicals are meant to cater for over 40,000 hectares of maize fields in the province and will help in the early control of fall armyworms and ensure that crops are protected from any insects,” he said.

He advised farmers to practice crop rotation in order to break the cycle of armyworms.

“We are appealing to farmers to remain calm as extension officers have been assigned on the ground to try and mitigate the problem through sensitisation and early detection.”

Last year, the Zambian Government released K55 million for the campaign against army worms to help tackle the pest in the affected areas, countrywide.

The Spodoptera frugiperda is a species in the order Lepidoptera and one of the species of the fall armyworm moths distinguished by their larval life stage.

The term “armyworm” can refer to several species, often describing the large-scale invasive behavior of the species’ larval stage. It is regarded as a pest and can damage and destroy a wide variety of crops, which causes large economic damage.

Its scientific name derives from frugiperda, which is Latin for lost fruit, named because of the species’ ability to destroy crops. Because of its propensity for destruction, the fall armyworm’s habits and possibilities for crop protection have been studied in depth.

It is also a notable case for studying sympatric speciation, as it appears to be diverging into two species currently. In Zambia, Village-based biological control of fall army worm  is underway since 2023 and runs until next year.

The damage caused by fall armyworm leads to significant yield losses for Zambian smallholder farmers during every crop cycle. While chemical pesticides are used against fall armyworm, these can cause overarching negative effects.

This project aims to increase food security and safety for smallholder farmers in Zambia, by providing nature-based solutions to manage this devastating pest in maize crops.

The damage caused by fall armyworm leads to significant yield losses for Zambian smallholder farmers during every crop cycle. While chemical pesticides are used against fall armyworm, these can cause overarching negative effects.

This project aims to increase food security and safety for smallholder farmers in Zambia, by providing nature-based solutions to manage this devastating pest in maize crops.

The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) estimates that fall armyworm could cause losses of between 8.3 to 20.6 million tons of maize annually, and claim a value of US$ 2.5–6.2 billion, enough to feed 40–100 million people in 12 African countries.

Finding safe and effective ways of managing this voracious pest is crucial. In Malawi and Zambia, a team of researchers from World Agroforestry (ICRAF), Zambia Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI) and Malawi’s Department of Agricultural Research Services are implementing a 5-year research project,

Background:

Armyworms can be a significant pest for maize (corn) farms. They are known for their voracious feeding behavior and can cause substantial damage to crops. This is what you should know about armyworms in maize farming:

Armyworms feed on maize leaves, silks, and kernels. Their feeding will always lead to reduced yields, poor crop quality, and even crop failure if infestations are severe.

Adult armyworms are moths, while the larvae (caterpillars) are the stage that causes damage. The larvae can be green, brown, or striped, and they often move in groups, which is why they are called “armyworms.”

Here is the life Cycle: The fall armyworm goes through four life stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa, and adult moth. The larvae are the damaging stage and can move in large numbers across fields, resembling a marching army.

Here are effective Management Strategies:

1. Monitoring: Scout your field regularly to detect early infestations.
2. Chemical Control: Using insecticides, e.g., Volt Star, Demise, Nemesis,Emmamecting benzoate, do this judiciously to avoid resistance development.
3. Cultural Practices: Crop rotation, removing crop residues, and planting pest-resistant maize varieties.
4. Prevention: Preventive measures include using pheromone traps for early detection, applying preventative insecticide treatments, promote practices that support natural enemies of the armyworm.

Proper management requires timely interventions and a comprehensive approach combining various control methods to minimize the impact on your maize crops.

Effect on Crops:

Fall armyworms are a damaging invasive species that can cause significant crop damage and threaten food security. They are native to the Americas, but have been reported in neighboring countries such as Burundi, Malawi, and Zimbabwe.

• Damage

Fall armyworms can eat through entire maize fields, causing farmers to lose 30–40% of their crops.

• Control

The Zambian government, like many other countries, have declared fall armyworm outbreaks a national disaster and has used military planes to spray affected areas. However, some experts say that pesticides may not be enough to control the outbreak because the worms can burrow into the center of maize plants.

• Impact

Fall armyworms are especially damaging to smallholder farmers, who are often more dependent on environmental services and have less access to extension services.

• Prevention

Some farmers say that the solution is to invest in preventative measures, such as planting hardier, pest-resistant crops. Others suggest using low-risk control measures like pheromone traps and plant/bacteria based products.