In 2017, the researchers reviewed literature and product labels, profiling active ingredients particularly those in Africa to assess effectiveness of biopesticides against fall armyworm and other armyworms in general.Īnalysis of registered pesticides and biopesticides specifically for fall armyworm was conducted in January and February of 2018 in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda and Zimbabwe. The annual total production loss was 8.5 to 21 million tonnes, valued at US$250 – US$630 million, says a UK’s Department for International Development commissioned study.Ĭenter for Agriculture Bioscience International (CABI, the parent organisation of SciDev.Net) experts in a study identified 50 such products registered in 30 countries globally and selected 23 which included for safety assessment and accessibility to farmers.įall armyworm is an important and challenging pest management target in Africa’ so safe, sustainable and effective interventions such as biopesticides are a ‘key component of management strategies’ to consider over chemical controls, says Melanie Bateman, lead author of the study published in the Journal of Applied Entomology this week (22 October). Last year, Ghanaian farmers experienced an estimated 45 per cent loss and in Zambia there was 40 per cent loss from the destructive pest. Researchers have identified a number of pesticides derived from natural materials such as animals, plants, bacteria, and certain minerals – also known as biopesticides – that are safe, sustainable and effective against the fall armyworm in Africa.įall armyworm is devastating crops across the continent. Garlic, oranges, chillies and sex pheromones are among the potentially viable natural control measures that could be used against fall armyworm, according to a study. Could be used to replace chemical treatments.

Effective natural products include garlic, chillies, orange oil and sex pheromones.

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