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West Africa: New pest threatens crops

Source(s): Eurasia Review
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The moth Spodoptera frugiperda, commonly known as fall armyworm moth, was first registered in Africa in 2016. It is not certain how it arrived, but DNA-analyses show that it is likely to have been more than an introduction.

[...]

Currently, there are no successful methods to combat fall armyworm moth in West Africa. However, the extent of damage is already so large that it is crucial to get started quickly. In Benin, controlling this new pest is top priority for the agricultural authorities.

Sæthre wishes to set up an international research collaboration to combat the pest.

[...]

In addition to short-term control measures, we may also look at more long-term measures, Sæthre says. This may for instance be to map out which natural enemies the species have in its’ original areas. Is it possible to safely transfer some of these to Africa?

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Hazards Insect infestation
Themes Food security and agriculture
Country and region Afghanistan
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