Kathryn Burnham | June 18, 2018
In the Central and Western regions of Uganda, farmers are busy with the first weeding of the season. As they head into their maize fields, many are anxious to see just how the plants are growing—and how many have been affected by Fall armyworm.
Ugandan farmers have been dealing with a Fall armyworm infestation since last year. The pest arrived in West Africa from the Americas in 2016, and spread from there. It is expected to cause more than two billion dollars’ worth of damage to African maize crops each year.
But farmers in Uganda’s Central and Western regions have a new tool to help them manage the pest: radio.
Radio Kitara and Radio Simba are on air again to talk about Fall armyworm, in partnership with Farm Radio International. The shows are part of a 10-week radio campaign on Fall armyworm, the second phase of a project that originally aired from October to December 2017.
As farmers are weeding their fields, the radio shows are talking about how to identify Fall armyworm, and especially how to distinguish it from the African armyworm and other common pests in the region.
After hearing about how to identify Fall armyworm, farmers will learn how to monitor their fields and deal with the caterpillars they find on their crops. This includes using both biological and chemical methods. The radio programs will also discuss how to use chemical pesticides safely.
Experts advise farmers to monitor the damage in their fields and use control methods only when damage is severe. They recommend that farmers check the damage on 10 consecutive plants in 10 areas of the field to estimate what percentage of plants have been affected.
Many farmers handpick the caterpillars and eggs from maize plants, which can be an effective way for small-scale farmers to manage the pest. Fall armyworm multiplies quickly, laying up to 2,000 eggs in its lifetime. By destroying the eggs, farmers can reduce the Fall armyworm population.
The first series of Fall armyworm radio programs was very popular. Nearly 6,000 farmers responded to poll questions during the series.
Charles Wandera is a farmer in the Masindi district of Uganda’s Western region who tuned in to the first series of radio programs on Radio Kitara. He says: “All along we have been lacking information to fight the armyworm, but from the time we got a chance with this project with Radio Kitara, we are getting information.”
With another growing season in full swing, the stations are back on air to help give farmers the best chance for a good maize harvest.
This story was first published in May 2018.
Photo: Broadcasters from Radio Kitara interview a farmer for their first Fall armyworm radio series.