fall armyworm Archives

IITA releases 10-year strategy for managing invasive species in Africa

Prevention, early detection and control make up the three-pronged approach that Africa is taking on to manage the menace of invasive species on the continent. As the climate continues to change, invasive species also continue to increase and spread globally. Countries cannot wave off a global challenge individually hence the need for a continent-wide strategy. This…

How IITA discovered the fall armyworm

Isn’t it interesting how seemingly unrelated events in two countries can lead to the same outcome? The story of identifying the fall armyworm in Africa is as intriguing as the pest itself. In 2015 Ylva Hillbur, IITA’s former Deputy Director General (DDG) Research for Development was in talks with a Swedish team of researchers at…

R4D Special: Scientists discover factors influencing FAW damage in African maize fields in Eastern Zimbabwe

Since the presence of the fall armyworm (FAW, Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith) was reported in Central and Western Africa in early 2016, and later in most of sub-Saharan Africa, it has become a serious threat to food security in the region. Although the immediate reaction of governments was to invest in chemical pesticides and their…

Dr Saethre interacting with scientists at one of the soybean fields in Malawi, Chitedze Research Station.

DDG-R4D visits IITA’s field research activities in Southern Africa Hub locations

From 23 to 31 March, IITA Deputy Director General-Research for Development (DDG-R4D), May-Guri Saethre, had a successful field visit to Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia in the Southern Africa Hub to appreciate the advancement of new research and technologies. She appealed to scientists to take a more vigorous approach to deal with pests and diseases particularly…

Picture of participants at the FAW “plan to action” meeting

IITA-led fall armyworm compact holds regional “plan to action” meeting to control pest in East Africa

An Africa-wide initiative of the African Development Bank (AfDB), in partnership with IITA to mobilize regional efforts to stop the spread of fall armyworm (FAW)—an invasive pest threatening food supply and incomes of millions of African smallholder farmers—has been launched in East Africa.

Picture of Dennis Rangi, CABI; and May-Guri Saethre, IITA, in a panel discussion

Fall armyworm: Forum advocates cocktail of solutions before the next outbreak

Farmers across Africa are reeling under huge losses linked to the devastation by the invasive species called fall armyworm (FAW) or Spodoptera frugiperda.

Picture of a panel of experts look at the fall armyworm problem at AGRF

Agribusiness investments, partnerships against fall armyworm take center stage as AGRF2018 ends

The African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF), the most influential gathering around Africa’s largest economic sector, concluded Saturday, 8 September with ambitious commitments to deliver billions of dollars in new investments to African farms and agribusinesses, triple agriculture trade between African countries, and forge new partnerships.

Picture of stakeholders, including IITA, came together in Yaounde, Cameroon, to discuss how to control FAW

West and Central Africa rally against fall armyworm

A two-day high-level meeting on controlling fall armyworm (FAW) in West and Central Africa took place on 11 and 12 September in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Picture of thje TAAT leadership in a discussion with the country officials

AfDB deploys Integrated approach, proven technologies against fall armyworm in Africa

After two days of intense deliberations on the best possible ways to tackle the menace of fall armyworm (FAW) in Africa, representatives of the agriculture ministries from Central and West African countries have been urged to come up with proposals on how an integrated approach to winning the war against fall armyworm in their respective countries can be achieved.

Picture of Southern armyworm attacking cassava in Nigeria. Photo by Andrew Ajetola

Southern Armyworm identified in West and Central Africa!

A new pest—southern armyworm, Spodoptera eridania (Stoll)—has been discovered in West and Central Africa!