Time-critical measures to support early warning and monitoring and sustainable management of the Fall Armyworm in India

Strategic Objective 5

Objectives: Government of India and farmers are empowered to minimize FAW impacts to protect food security (SDG 2.1), productivity and incomes (SDG 2.3) and sustainable food and agriculture systems (SDG 2.4) through improved monitoring and surveillance systems, awareness and capacities of farmers and trainers and institutional frameworks to contain the FAW spread and manage it sustainably.

Description: The Fall Armyworm (FAW) (Spodoptera frugiperda), a transboundary insect pest native of the Americas, was first officially reported in India in August 2018, initially confined to the Southern State of Karnataka. FAO immediately shared FAW’s guidance notes, training material and management recommendations with key national stakeholders, and warned the Government of India (GoI) of the likelihood of spread to the entire country. The Government issued an advisory to States, set up a High Power Committee and conducted surveys and surveillance through Central Integrated Pest Management Centres (CIPMCs), and awareness raising activities for farmers.

On 20 June 2019, GoI officially requested FAO’s support to address the situation as the infestation had spread to 20 States (Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripuram, West Bengal, spanning all ecologies from South to North. The total affected area in 2018-2019 was officially reported at 376 242 ha by end June 2019.

As in other countries, FAW has primarily been found on maize; but also with limited damage on sorghum (Jowar), millets, sugarcane and rice. The primary concern is maize, which is the third cereal crop in the country after rice and wheat. An estimated 89 per cent of maize production is for domestic consumption, including animal consumption and industrial uses (corn oils, starches etc). FAW infestation compounded by drought led to an estimated shortfall of nearly 500 000 tonnes in maize output, prompting the central government to allow import of maize under concessional duty. The coverage of FAW in the media also increased, and researchers and civil society organizations questioned the widespread pesticide use, which risk worsening the problem, and might also not be economically efficient, and can increase farmers’ indebtedness. In 2018, highly toxic pesticides including Carbofuran and Phorate (Highly Hazardous organophosphate pesticides) were promoted for use on FAW.

FAO’s experience on sustainable FAW management, positioned it as a reliable partner to support the GoI in its endeavours to tackle this issue. The TCP availed of the best expertise to mitigate negative impacts of the FAW attacks on two fronts:

1. Prevent/reduce yield losses and economic and food security impacts

2. Limit use and risks from highly hazardous insecticides to protect human and ecosystems health, and livelihoods.

These twin objectives were achieved in particular by:

• Supporting well informed mass information campaigns and training on FAW for farmers and relevant stakeholders during kharif. FAO’s flagship Farmer Field Schools (FFS) approach was also used
• Supporting improved early warning and monitoring for FAW (customizing the use of FAO’s successful App FAMEWS) to generate real time knowledge on host range and migration patterns in Indian agro-ecologies and cropping systems.

Donor: FAO

Expected Outputs:

• Strengthened awareness and capacities of government staff, rural advisory services and farmers to manage FAW sustainably in the short and long term
• Improved Monitoring & Early Warning systems for FAW
• Evidence documented and shared to support policy response and roll out of sustainable management strategies for FAW in the mid- and long term