9 May 2018 12.00-13.30 (UTC / GMT +2)

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The Fall Armyworm (FAW), an insect pest native to the tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, was first detected in West and Central Africa in early 2016. Since then, it has been infesting maize and other crops across Africa. By early 2018, all but 10 (mostly in the north of the continent) of the 54 African states and territories have reported infestations by the invasive pest. FAW feeds on more than 80 crops, including maize, sorghum, millet, sugarcane, cowpea and certain vegetable crops. The pest will likely continue to feed on important crops and spread, threatening the cereal production systems, as well as the food security, food safety and livelihoods of millions of Africans.

The damage caused by FAW is particularly worse under low input smallholder production. Moreover, FAW is new to Africa. Farmers and extension workers need to have immediate access to key information on the pest’s behavior, on how to reduce infestations and crop damage, and how to adjust the agro-ecosystem and ensure sustainable management. Hence, monitoring and early warning mechanisms are of a central importance. To this end, FAO has developed and deployed a Fall Armyworm Monitoring and Early Warning System (FAMEWS), including a mobile app that consists of standard data to be collected and recorded directly in the field for monitoring FAW. The data will also generate maps of incidence to help monitor any changes in FAW distribution.

Countries from FAO’s Regional Office in Africa have sent requests for support to the South-South Cooperation Team in DPS (Partnerships and South-South Cooperation Division) specifically on monitoring FAW in Africa. South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) are strategically relevant to both FAO and its member countries, as they are essential tools by which the Sustainable Development Goals can be achieved. Countries from the South have much to share given their recent experiences in overcoming development challenges, such as the FAW, where one country context can readily relate to another one.

In order to raise awareness on the FAO FAW monitoring and early warning system by sharing knowledge through SSTC, this webinar will introduce the FAMEWS, and the use of the mobile app. 

Agenda of the webinar:

• Introduction and welcome of the participants, importance of the monitoring and early warning system for the sustainable management of FAW – Speaker: SP5, AGP and DPS Management (names TBC)
• FAW in RAF: the current situation – Speaker: Jean Baptiste Bahama, Plant Production and Protection Officer, RAF
• South-South Cooperation: Matching countries’ needs and/or requests with best solutions – Speaker: Peter Anaadumba (SSC Regional Officer in RAF)
• FAW Monitoring & Early Warning System: How to use the mobile app developed by FAO – Speaker: Keith Cressman, Senior Agricultural Officer, AGPM
• Other facilities offered by FAO to countries affected by the FAW outbreak – Speaker: Keith Cressman, Senior Agricultural Officer, AGPM
• Question and answer session 

This webinar is part of a series on Fall Armyworm (FAW) and South-South Cooperation (SSC). A webinar dedicated to FAWRisk Map will be organized in June.