The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in conjuction with the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) and their respective implementing partners have created a hands-on fact sheet to help small-scale farmers combat the spread of fall army worm.
The move will help more than 350 000 farmers, whose crops were under threat from the deadly army worm,.
The fall army worm can feed on 80 different crop species, including maize, a staple food consumed by over 300 million African smallholder farm families.
The crop pest has since been found in over 30 African countries, including Zimbabwe, posing a significant threat to food security, income, and livelihoods.
USAID/Zimbabwe Mission Director Stephanie Funk said, “The United States is partnering with 350,000 Zimbabwean farmers and other local experts to stop the spread of this dangerous pest,” said Funk.
She added, “This is an important part of USAID’s ongoing efforts to improve food security in Zimbabwe by strengthening the resilience and productivity of small-scale farmers.”
The Center for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI) in September 2017 reported that the pests could totally destroy maize crops if not taken care of.
“If proper control measures are not implemented, the pest could cause extensive maize yield losses, estimated between $76 million and $191 million in Zimbabwe,” stated the research.
USAID/Zimbabwe is also working with CIMMYT, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and a University of Zimbabwe entomologist to bring stakeholders together from all relevant sectors to share information and create a platform for continued open dialogue to tackle the voracious fall armyworm.
USAID promotes agricultural recovery and livelihood development through the Feed the Future initiative. USAID’s two Feed the Future activities aim to reduce rural poverty and increase incomes and food security through increased agricultural production, productivity, and market linkages for small-scale crop farmers and dairy and beef producers.
