Kisumu and Nairobi – Like many other tropical countries, Kenya faces fall armyworm infestations, with maize crops recording high levels of infestations during the growing season. The pest has enormous potential to further spread to other crops, threatening the livelihoods of vulnerable maize farmers and economic damage.

In response, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), through the FAO-China South-South Cooperation Programme, recently conducted a refresher training to equip Kenya’s plant protection officers and extension officers with skills and tools to manage fall armyworm (FAW) sustainably. The training focused on the use of the FAW Early Warning System (FAMEWS) tool and predictive modeling techniques. The goal is to strengthen Kenya’s ability to forecast FAW outbreaks and respond proactively, minimizing crop damage.

Harnessing FAW monitoring system and predictive modeling

The week-long training was delivered through three key components – predictive modeling, integrated pest management demonstration trials, and farmer field schools (FFS) initiatives. 

In Kisumu, the training emphasized on improving data collection techniques, adapting predictive models to local conditions, and enhancing national monitoring and forecasting capabilities. Experts from the Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (IPPCAAS), contributed to these sessions, sharing insights on data collection frequency, trajectory analysis models, and FAW population occurrence prediction.

Advancing IPM through evidence-based science

To test single integrated pest management (IPM) technologies, demonstration trials will be established across selected sites including a 4-acre demonstration site at the Mabanga Agricultural Training Centre (ATC) in Bungoma. These trials will test effectiveness of different IPM approaches, such as using maize varieties that are tolerant to pests, seed treatments, cultural practices, biocontrol agents, and judicious pesticide applications.

Farmer field schools: Strengthening community-led solutions

Equally important in the fight against FAW are farmer field schools (FFS), where knowledge sharing and community-based learning are central. The FAO’s training emphasized the importance of farmer-led innovation, encouraging FFS facilitators to develop a structured work plan for training of about 1 000 farmers in the upcoming growing seasons. These field schools empower farmers to adopt sustainable FAW management practices, leveraging community-based learning approaches ensuring that solutions are tailored to local conditions.

Additionally, the visit to KALRO’s natural enemy facility and laboratory in Muguga, was meant to assess the potential for biological control interventions and capacity of mass rearing of natural enemy. The assessment revealed strong infrastructure capacity, including quarantine spaces and greenhouses. These efforts can be buttressed by the presence of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), sourcing colonies of biocontrol agents such as Trichogramma and Telenomus and identifying alternative hosts to support colony establishment. FAO is committed to strengthening institutional capacities while KALRO will collaborate with research institutions to advance biological control research.

Continued collaboration

FAO also reinforced the importance of collaboration between national stakeholders, including government representatives and research institutions, to develop and implement effective, evidence-based FAW management strategies.

Director of the Plant Protection & Food Safety Directorate, Teresia Karanja, highlighted the importance of South-South Cooperation in adapting successful methods from other countries to Kenya’s context.

FAO Assistant Representative in Kenya, Williams Hamisi, lauded collaboration between FAO, Kenya's government, and research institutions to build resilience against FAW, while Maged Elkahky, FAO-Agricultural officer, reiterated that FAO will continue to empower national plant protection services and extension officers with the necessary tools and knowledge to safeguard food security against transboundary plant pests.