[Tanzania] Russell IPM's Bio Rational Program tames fall army worm damage to less than 5 per cent

Russell IPM's bio-rational program successfully managed to manage fall army worms in Tanzania, reducing damage in winter maize to less than 5% while traditional pesticides managed to limit the damage to 25-30% only. This will provide a glimmer of hope for African farmers in the fight for their livelihood against this devastating and difficult to control plague.

Fresh research finding published by TPRI Arusha anzania has conclusively shown that a bio-rational program developed by Russell IPM has outperformed traditional pesticides in the fight of Fall army worm (Spodoptera frugiperda). The research was conducted in three regions in Tanzania, Winter Maize (June-September).

Biotrine, Antario and Recharge are the key elements of the program which provides effectiveness, as well as sustainability. In addition, it offers virtually pesticide residue- free Maize. The program was the result of years of development by Russell IPM research and development team in collaboration with a number of Agricultural Research organizations.

Recent reports from Cameron came out in line with the Tanzania results confirming that sustainable and bio-rational solution can outperform traditional pesticides successfully.

Late last year, Russell IPM conducted research to establish the best pheromone lure formulation to attract fall army worm (Spodoptera frugiperda). In addition to reaching an optimum pheromone formulation and rolling out the most successful monitoring system for the pest, it also helped to identify the genotype of the current pest outbreak and its source.

Fall army worm (Spodoptera frugiperda) belongs to the order Lepidoptera; Noctuidae family, is an alien, invasive moth insect pest native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. It was detected in 2016 in African countries; Nigeria, Sao Tomé, Benin and Togo. It has also been confirmed in Ghana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Kenya, Zambia and Congo Democratic Republic, and there are preliminary reports of the pest in Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Ethiopia and South Sudan.

På grund av den komplekse natur eller faldet af hærormorminfestation, høj spredningsevne, høj reproduktiv kapacitet og bredt værtsområde, er det mest sandsynligt at den skadedyr snart vil være i stand til at kolonisere de fleste afrikanske lande og have stor indflydelse på landets fødevaresikkerhed og livelihoods .

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