Having 2.5 million hectares of maize farm, Ethiopia’s agriculture has been infested with Fall Armyworm which could diminish the production by more than 30 percent. Amid the infestation, Brachiaria and Desmodium grasses remain best solutions to control the pest.
Farmer Asfaw Reta is from the Eastern Wollega zone of Oromia State, whose largest farming is maize. He is fighting against the invasive and devastating Fall Armyworm. His seven hectares of maize farm, the major income to his family, is under threat of the pest. At this time, he is struggling against the pest using agro-ecological solutions that he learnt from agricultural experts and their partners.
“I thought I would lose everything if I was hesitant to use the solution. Neighboring farmers are copying solutions from me. We all are hoping to lessen the impact, not to eradicate the pest,” he expressed.
According to him, using Brachiara and Desmodium grasses is the best eco-friendly solution to combat fall armyworm.
These types of grasses are false habitats which can trap and catch the pest and halt its eggs from hatching speedily. On the other hand, the farmers are also using the same grasses as animal fodder, he said.
In spite of the availability of agro-ecological solutions, Asfaw expressed that the seed of the grass is “very expensive” for farmers.
“Personally, I have sufficient seeds of Brachiaria and Desmodium grasses. I sometimes supply seeds for farmers. But it needs to be addressed with government or stakeholders’ effort,” he commented.
Asmamaw Jemaneh, an expert on the Fall Armyworm working for the Ministry of Agriculture, stated that training is being arranged to all experts and maize farmers to control the invasive pest.
A survey conducted this year by the Ministry indicated that 450,000 hectares of maize farm is affected by the Fall Armyworm despite the fact that the scale of infestation varies from one place to another.
Out of the infested land, almost 309,000 hectares has been treated with traditional and chemical solutions while the chemical aspect has its own side effects. “So, we are now recommending using natural solutions,” he said.
Yielding more than 107 million quintals per a year, maize is the second largest growing crop in Ethiopia. The consequence on the crop directly impacts the food security, according to Asmamaw.
The International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology-ICIPE has been working with a three-year project, community based monitoring and forecasting for early warning and timely management in fighting the armyworm.
Rachel Owino, a Technology Transfer Expert at ICIPE, told The Ethiopian Herald that the pest is becoming a global threat.
Fall Armyworm has led to production losses in Ethiopia and neighboring countries, she said adding, it needs comprehensive collaboration among agricultural stakeholders to prevent further damage.
Farmers who have adopted natural solutions are seeing positive results in defending their crops from the pest, she noted.
BY YESUF ENDRIS
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 4 JULY 2024
