FAO conducts training programme on integrated pest management of fall armyworm

AMMAN — The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations conducted a training programme on integrated pest management for fall armyworm.

This training programme falls within the regional activities of “Emergency preparedness and response to strengthen capacities of MENA countries to mitigate the risk of fall armyworm (FAW) in the region”, project funded by FAO and implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture in Jordan, said a FAO statement.

FAW is an invasive transboundary insect pest that can feed on more than 80 crop plants. Upon its introduction to Africa in 2016, the pest has caused devastating losses in many economic crops, particularly maize, the statement said.

After the spread of FAW in Africa in 2016, the pest was first reported in the region in Sudan and Yemen in 2018. Currently, there are eight countries that have officially reported the presence of the pest, including Egypt, Oman, the UAE, Mauritania, Jordan and Syria.

The objective of the training sessions is to build the capacity of farmers from Deir Alla, southern and northern Shouneh, Zarqa and southern Ghor on the integrated management of fall armyworm pest by presenting the lifecycle of this worm and its biological enemies. 

It aims also at introducing methods to combat it chemically and biologically in order to reduce damages that may affect the agricultural productivity and consequently lead to losses in production and profit, the statement said.

Furthermore, farmers will be able to transfer the experiences and information among farmers in the field of integrated pest management  in general and fall armyworm in particular.