AGRICULTURAL NEWS - A diagnostic report from the Agricultural Research Council, Plant Protection Research Institute (ARC PPRI) confirmed that fall armyworm was positively identified from samples collected in Limpopo.
The samples, jointly collected from the ARC Grain Institute and North West University, were caterpillars that had to pupate and emerge as months before positive identification could take place.
Fall armyworm (FAW) is a quarantine pest for South Africa which has a wide host range and can affect crops such as maize, sorghum, soybeans, groundnuts, and potatoes.
This pest is a good flyer and cannot be contained in a specific area. Damage reported in South Africa so far is mainly on yellow maize varieties and especially on sweetcorn as well as maize planted for seed production. Reports of caterpillar damage have been received mainly from the Limpopo and North West provinces.
Emergency response plan in motion
The South African Emergency Plant Pest Response Plan is already in motion which deals with new pest detections in South Africa.
The actions implemented depend on the pest, the extent of the spread and extent of the damage. Now that there is a positive identification, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (DAFF) will continue with the assessment of spread and damage, awareness actions to provide farmers with accurate technical information and control options.
Pheromone traps will be imported into South Africa to determine the exact extent of the spread and the specific strain of FAW present in South Africa. Diagnostic support has been increased to deal with the bulk of sample identification. DAFF is working closely with Provincial Departments of Agriculture and farmers to assess damage on farm level, to determine other hosts affected and to implement roadshows where farming communities are made aware of the pest.
Emergency registration of agricultural chemicals
As the FAW is a new pest to South Africa, no pesticide was previously registered to be used against it. A process of emergency registration of agricultural chemicals is initiated for urgent registration.
Chemical suppliers are, therefore, encouraged to apply for emergency registration of agricultural chemicals to be used on maize and other host plants against Spodoptera frugiperda (FAW).
An interim control programme aimed to assist farmers with a guide for pesticide use as an emergency measure is communicated to various role players and it will be available on the DAFF website.
