European Union to help Icipe fight armyworm

The European Commission Directorate for International Cooperation and Development (DEVCO), will strengthen the efforts of the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (Icipe), in the management of the fall army worm in Kenya and neigbouring countries.

Since January 2016, the fall army worm (Spodoptera frugiperda), a very destructive pest that is endemic to the Americas, has been devastating maize and other crops in at least 43 African countries, placing at risk the food and nutrition security, and indeed the very livelihoods, of more than 300 million people.

The larval stage of the fall army worm feeds on more than 80 plant species, including maize, sorghum, rice, wheat, sugarcane, as well as a variety of horticultural crops thus threatening food and nutritional security, trade, household incomes and overall economies.

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“Efforts to control the fall armyworm through conventional methods, such as use of insecticides is complicated by the fact that the adult stage of the pest is most active at night, and the infestation is only detected after damage has been caused to the crop.

The pest also has a diverse range of alternative host plants that enables its populations to persist and spread...,” noted Dr Sunday Ekesi, Director of Research and Partnership, Icipe.

Icipe envisioned the development of a science-led, African-context specific sustainable integrated pest management package for the fall armyworm.

In partnership with various stakeholders, the Centre has initiated a range of activities including capacity for early warning, rapid response and regional preparedness, and damage assessment across various ecologies.

DEVCO provides financial support to Icipe for a Euro 7.0 million project, a figure that is inclusive of 20 per cent contribution from the Centre’s core funds by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation; Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency; UK Aid; the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Kenya.