Fall armyworm (FAW) is attacked by a very wide range of natural enemies. In biologically diverse smallholder fields, known as Milpas, in Central America FAW is regarded as a minor pest, although it is a significant pest in commercial farms. Agroecological approaches promote the diversity, abundance and activity of natural enemies, and should form the basis of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies for FAW management.

These are based on three complementary strategies:

(i)  integrated soil fertility management to promote healthy, vigorous plants that are resilient to pest attack;

(ii) increasing biodiversity from field to farm to landscape scales to provide habitat and alternative resources for natural enemies; and

(iii) species actions for promoting natural enemies, such as providing insect hotels or bat roosts. Early results from studies from smallholder fields in Malawi and Zambia suggest that FAW populations are kept in check by mortality factors across a diverse range of environmental conditions. Support for farmers should focus on enhancing capacity for IPM, through improved knowledge of agroecological approaches and biological control options with botanicals as biopesticides used in emergency responses.

Work developed on small properties in corn produced for grain consumption or for silage production as food for the dairy herd has demonstrated that efficient and cost-effective control of Spodoptera frugiperda – while also preserving environmental and human health – can be achieved with the use of the biological control agent Trichogramma pretiosum, an egg parasitoid. The strategy involves technical training in production systems, biological control, and pest monitoring. Also necessary are strong network connections for fast information sharing – an essential tool for decision-making, acquisition, and use of biological control technology, considering the short interval between the arrival of the pest, the beginning of its egg-laying, and the hatching of larvae.

The invasion of Africa by fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda in 2016, aggravated losses in cereal production in Africa. Emergency responses for FAW control have been based on use of synthetic pesticides. However, smallholders have reported low efficacy and high cost of some synthetic pesticides promoted for FAW management. They are also less likely to be environmentally sustainable. Considering the low productivity of cereals in smallholder systems, pest management strategies for fall armyworm in Africa needs to be sustainable and amenable to the smallholders. Diversified production such as cereal-legume intercropping and push-pull systems, effective monitoring at national and regional level, conservation of indigenous natural enemies and promotion of biopesticides as alternatives to synthetic pesticides, can contribute to effective and sustainable management of FAW by smallholders in Africa.

Speakers:

• Rhett D. Harrison - Senior Researcher, Landscape Ecology and Conservation. World Agroforestry Centre, East & Southern Africa Region, Zambia, “Agroecological approaches for Fall Armyworm management’’;
• Ivan Cruz - Researcher, Embrapa maize & sorghum (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation), Brazil, “Success of Biological control of Spodoptera frugiperda in maize in areas of small-scale producers (family farmers) in Brazil”;
• Sevgan Subramanian- Principal Scientist, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Kenya, “Sustainable solutions for fall armyworm management by smallholders in Africa”

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