Tackling the new Maize pest

Recently there was an outbreak of new insect pests in Africa that is damaging maize at an alarming rate. The pest known as Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) was also introduced into Nigeria in 2016, and from there it has become a menace to maize growers in the country, thereby posing a threat to food security. […]

Recently there was an outbreak of new insect pests in Africa that is damaging maize at an alarming rate. The pest known as Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) was also introduced into Nigeria in 2016, and from there it has become a menace to maize growers in the country, thereby posing a threat to food security.

The insect pest attack maize and other cereals, especially sorghum, which is the major staple food of Northern Nigeria.  The larva of the insect eat the leaves, tassels, silk and cob of maize plant, and therefore, reduces the yield of the crop. The insect pest is so devastating that it is now found in almost all the state of the federation causing enormous damage to both rain fed and irrigated maize. Many maize farmers, especially in the North, had recorded the presence of the pest this year, which makes one of major pest of maize now.

Although the pest was recorded since 2016, much had not been made to tackle its devastating menace, especially by the States of the Federation. Many International organizations are now on ground helping to curve the effect of the pest. The United Nation’s Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) is trying in that direction. However for the pest to be defeated, all hands must be on deck to ensure that the pest is well managed.

Several measures must be taken to manage the pest. However first and foremost is to fund researches on the activities and management of the pest. More importantly, is how to manage the pest sustainably, which will go a long way to meeting the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Unlike Nigeria, several African Counties that had recorded the same pest in 2016 had come up with several measures to curve it activities.  In these African counties, pesticides had already been selected that can be used strictly for the management of the pest. Several researches are also going on, especially on managing the pests without using chemicals. Extension activities in such countries had been intensified so as to reach several framers to create awareness on the new pest.

It is therefore, necessary for both Federal and States Ministries of Agriculture to join hand together in ensuring that this new devastating pest is managed to avoid looming danger to our food security.

 

Inusa Ahmed Adamu, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria