Horti leads in battle against Fall Armyworm

[caption id="attachment_252311" align="alignleft" width="300"] Moa Walling demonstrates how to use pesticides against pests, on June 1 in Kohima.[/caption] Our Correspondent Kohima, June 1 (EMN): To help agriculture stakeholders and farmers understand the impact of the crop pest Fall armyworm, which is said to be affecting various parts of Nagaland, the Horticulture department conducted a workshop and training programme, on June 1 in Kohima. Speaking about the need for collective efforts to control the pest, the advisor for Horticulture Mhathung Yanthan urged district officials not to remain 'insensitive.' Besides maize, the worm is affecting 20 other plants and economic crops, he said. Saying that the pest has the potential to cause widespread damage, Yanthan urged the people to join the task of curbing the spread of the worm for the welfare of maize growers in the state. The legislator urged officers to visit affected fields and report the matter to the authority in concern. Asking them to undertake a proper survey of the damaged crops, he told the officers to stay in touch with the farmers. He suggested to them to coordinate with the Agriculture department, KVKS and any other agency that is involved. The principal secretary for the Horticulture department, MK Mero also addressed the event. he emphasised on tackling the menace on a war footing. Although maize is not an 'item' under the Horticulture department it is a food crop of the state. Therefore, the department has taken up the task of working out measures to mitigate the pest's infestation. Farmers facing the problems from the infestation may contact the district horticulture office in the respective district for support, he said. Also, the director of Horticulture, Dr. R Elithung Lotha said in his keynote address that the issue demands seriousness: "Let us all be serious and take up this issue with all seriousness for the benefit of the farmers." As an allied department to the Agriculture department, the Horticulture establishment is concerned about the effect of the Fall armyworm on maize cultivation throughout the state, he said. The officer assured that measures are being initiated to train district horticulture officers and field staff of the department. Various programmes among farmers about taking preventive measures using pheromone traps and Nimbecidine EC chemicals, are also being initiated, he said. The moth of the worm, can "fly" up to a distance of 100 km in a single night. Therefore, preventive measures have to be taken at night only, the gathering was told. 'The worm has bought a devastating impact to neighbouring states; Nagaland also is not far from suffering the same fate if we do not take immediate action against it,' said S Senka Jamir, deputy director of Horticulture. 'Our country, constituting more than 70% of the population in the farming sector, is alarmed due to outbreak of the Fall armyworm, and it is now leading to a famine-like situation in Mizoram and perhaps the entire nation as well,” Jamir observed. More than INR 18.4 crore worth of crops have been reported damaged this year. The pest is infesting over 300 plant species, with maize being the major crop that is affected, he added. The deputy director of Horticulture, Dr. Moa Walling gave a demonstration on how to use pesticides against the pest. The department also distributed equipments and other inputs among the district officials. Botanical and bio pesticides to be used against the Fall armyworm will be available for immediate purchase at the Naga Shopping Arcade in Dimapur, the department informed. History Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda. J.E Smith 1797) is a species in the order of Lepidoptera. This armyworm is widely distributed in Eastern and central of North America and South America. In 2016 it was reported in Africa and spread to 28 countries. In July 2018 it begins to spread widely in India. Once the worm enters a country, there is no way to stop its spread. Its effect can be minimized through monitoring, surveillance and creating awareness among the farmers to scout their crops for early detection. Fall army worm is exotic and invasive migratory pest a voracious feeder damaging economically important cultivated crops such as maize, wheat, potato, soybean, cowpea, peanuts, sorghum, rice, sugarcane, vegetables, cotton etc. Fall army worm attacks 80 crop species. Its diet contains of 300 plant species including vegetable and ornamental plants. It poses great threat to the food security and livelihood of millions because heavy destruction can happen almost overnight. The adult moth are capable of flying long distance and can fly 100km in one night. In its lifetime an adult can fly more than 480km in a generation. The migration rate is remarkably fast that some scientists speculate that this fat migration is aided by air environment. The female moth can lay up to 1500 eggs. Warmer temperature increases the metabolism and reproductive rates of pest. The larva hatches in the older leaves and then moves up the plants as they grow older. The adult larva eats cobs and leaves and drops into the soil, staying there for 10days before emerging as an adult.