ZIMBABWE / FALL ARMYWORM OUTBREAK

A fall armyworm outbreak, the first emergence of the pest in southern Africa, is causing considerable crop damage in some countries. If the pest damage aggravates, it could dampen prospects for good crop harvests that is anticipated in the current farming season. FAO

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:03
• Production Date: 24 February 2017
• Asset Language: English
• Corporate Name: FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION - FAO
• Subject Topical: FOOD SECURITY; PEST MANAGEMENT; PESTS
• Geographic Subject: ZIMBABWE
• MAMS Id: 1837476
• Parent Id: 1837476
• Alternate Title: unifeed170224c

Description

STORY: ZIMBABWE / FALL ARMY WORM OUTBREAK
TRT: 2:03
SOURCE: FAO
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 23 FEBRUARY 2017, EAST ANGLIA FARM, SHAMVA AREA NEAR HARARE, ZIMBABWE

Shotlist

1 Wide shot, corn plantation
2. Med shot, farmer and FAO staff looking at the crops
3. Close up, damaged crops
4. Close up, armyworm
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Luxon Zembe, farm owner, East Anglia Farm:
“Indeed it is a challenge. Firstly it’s new and number 2 as I said the challenge of its velocity, how it spreads so fast, number 3 its resistance to the normal chemicals that we use for the stock borers and other pests that we normally deal with. So it is a big challenge that if it is not contained, it can reverse all the gains that have in terms of resuscitating our agricultural production and especially food security in Zimbabwe.“
6. Various shots, crops
7. Med shot, farmer and FAO staff looking at the crops
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Joyce Mulila-Mitti, Plant Production and Protection Officer, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO):
“I think an aspect of the fall armyworm which we need to emphasize is the fact that it attacks a lot of other crops in addition to grasses. It attacks sorghums and millets, it attacks rice, it attacks groundnuts, soybeans, cowpeas as well as cotton. This actually means that in terms of trying to reduce the pest pressure from one summer crop to another, we know that even in the winter there are other crops that on which it can survive. So essentially in developing control strategies, we will have to be mindful of the fact that it can survive on so many other crops.”
9. Various shots, damaged crops

Storyline

A fall armyworm outbreak, the first emergence of the pest in southern Africa, is causing considerable crop damage in some countries. If the pest damage aggravates, it could dampen prospects for good crop harvests that is anticipated in the current farming season. Maize, a staple food in the region has been the most affected, as well as other cereals including sorghum, millet and wheat.

Southern Africa is reeling from the effects of two consecutive years of El Nino-induced drought that affected over 40 million people, reduced food availability by 15 percent and caused a cereal deficit of 9 million tonnes.

According to the FAO, the situation is constantly evolving and preliminary reports indicate possible presence (of the pest) in Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe has positively identified the presence of the pest while the rest are expected to release test results soon.

Luxon Zembe, a farm owner in East Anglia, 25 kilomtres away from Harare, said “it is a challenge. Firstly it’s new and number 2 as I said the challenge of its velocity, how it spreads so fast, number 3 its resistance to the normal chemicals that we use for the stock borers and other pests that we normally deal with. So it is a big challenge that if it is not contained, it can reverse all the gains that have in terms of resuscitating our agricultural production and especially food security in Zimbabwe.“

FAO Joyce Mulila-Mitti said “I think an aspect of the fall armyworm which we need to emphasize is the fact that it attacks a lot of other crops in addition to grasses. It attacks sorghums and millets, it attacks rice, it attacks groundnuts, soybeans, cowpeas as well as cotton. This actually means that in terms of trying to reduce the pest pressure from one summer crop to another, we know that even in the winter there are other crops that on which it can survive. So essentially in developing control strategies, we will have to be mindful of the fact that it can survive on so many other crops.”

In Zambia, the Government has already spent US$ 3 million in an attempt to control the pest that has affected approximately 130 000 hectares of crops.

FAO is working with governments, the the Southern African Development Committee (SADC) and other stakeholders to develop and roll out an appropriate strategy to determine the level of fall armyworm infestation and its impact on crop production. The organization will continue supporting response efforts as well as contribute to enhancing the resilience capacity of the countries and stakeholders in the region.