Story by Fairstars Mukungurutse
As part of a wider response to the fall armyworm threat, government has rolled out field research trials to conscientise farmers on the best control methods.
With the fall armyworm threatening crop production among farming communities, government is implementing field trials for fall armyworm management and control across the country.
Represented by the director training Agricultural Advisory and Rural Development Services (AARDS) Mr Sibangilizwe Dlodlo during a field day in Harare this Tuesday, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Mr Obert Jiri highlighted mitigatory measures put in place by government in fighting the invasive pest.
“This initiative is being demonstrated by my ministry to provide one of many solutions against the menacing fall armyworm, which is currently affecting all provinces in Zimbabwe. Fall armyworm continues to pose a threat to both maize seed and grain production in Zimbabwe. Solutions aimed at reducing the impact of fall armyworm will therefore go a long way in ensuring food security everywhere and every day. Due to the serious threat posed by fall armyworms, strategies have been tabled for sustainable management of the pests.
“These strategies include, but are not limited to, the implementation of Pfumvudza, which factors in early planting, crop nutrition, pest scouting, and controlling the management of fall armyworm, encouraging insecticide rotations as a way of managing resistance development, and then thirdly, the establishment of an early warning system through the setting of traps and scouting to track movements of pests and to alert farmers. Mobile gadgets become handy in data collection and communication, and I can say we have equipped our food soldiers with tablets to ensure effective data collection and communication. And finally, training and awareness of farmers on the best ways of managing fall armyworm are critical,” he said.
Acting director of Migratory Pest Control, Mr Shingirai Nyamutukwa urged farmers to embrace the Fortenza Duo treatment.
“We are showcasing an integrated control measure of seed treatment and chemical control for fall armyworm. We call this approach Fortenza Duo treatment and we encourage farmers to use this concept. We have several plots we are using as demonstration sites and we can see that production on all controlled plots is excellent compared to uncontrolled ones,” he said.
Farmers have welcomed the initiative.
“For the past three years as a farmer in Mhondoro, I have been faced with this challenge. Fall armyworms are damaging most of our crops in both commercial farms and communal areas, especially subsistence farmers with lack access to chemicals or other items they can use to treat their crops here today, experts are demonstrating to us the integrated pest management that we can use to cure our crop and prevent crop damage. I have embraced this concept I am sure this programme will help a lot,” said farmer, Mr Panashe Kaguda.
“The project is effective where we have to use some of these pesticides on time and correctly so that at least we get the efficiency of it, so that our crops can be saved,” added a farmer, Mr Craig Evans.
While causing significant losses to farmers, the fall armyworm poses a serious threat to food security.
