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Fall armyworm: Resources and information

The fall armyworm is threatening farmers across Africa, devastating valuable maize harvests, as well as crops such as sorghum, soybeans, groundnuts, and potato.

This section of Barza Wire presents resources that provide more information about the pest, while experts and researchers attempt to find a solution before farmers’ food security is threatened. Stakeholders met in Zimbabwe in February, and another meeting will be held in Kenya April 27 and 28.

The maize experts at CIMMYT (the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre) provide some background information in this article, entitled: “Scientists tackle deadly fall armyworm infestation devastating maize in southern Africa.” To read it, go to: http://www.cimmyt.org/tackling-the-deadly-fall-armyworm-infestation-devastating-maize-in-southern-africa/ [1]

CABI (the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International) provides much information on plant diseases and pests in their Plantwise Knowledge Bank. CABI’s factsheet on the fall armyworm includes information on how to identify the invasive pest. For more information, go to: http://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/29810 [2]

More information and news can be found on the Armyworm Network, which is tracking stories from around the world about African armyworms, including the fall armyworm. For more information, go to: http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/armyworm/press/ [3]

To learn more from BBC Afrique (in French), listen to this interview with agronomy professor Many Madika from Kinshasa: http://www.bbc.com/afrique/media-39111820 [4]

 

Photo: Larval damage armyworm/University of Georgia/Bugwood.org