Fall Armyworm |
In view of the
transboundary disease called Armyworm disease, the FAO is soliciting for more
fund to combat the its spread through the use of farmers’ guide just as the organization
is working closely with a wide range of countries around the world that have
formally requested the its assistance to tapping into financing from the Green Climate Fund. This was stated in a press release made available to
Food Farm News.
The statement
said that FOA has been on the front line responding to the Fall Armyworm threat
and it has recently launched a step by step guide for farmers on how to deal
with this transboundary pest. Endorsed by the African Union, the FAO Programme
for Action on Fall Armyworm, aims to leverage much-needed funding, Graziano da
Silva said. "So far we have raised $13 million. FAO has contributed to $10
million from its own budget. But we need much more."
It was added in
the press statement that Africa is particularly affected and vulnerable to
climate change, which is contributing to increasing outbreaks of pests and
diseases, with Fall Armyworm - which was first reported on the continent in
2016 and has now spread rapidly to almost all Sub-Saharan countries - being a
case in point, the FAO Director-General said. Fall Armyworm - whose moths can
fly up to 100 km per night - primarily affects maize, but also rice and sorghum
as well as cotton and some vegetables.
The organisation
has also developed a mobile app called FAMEWS which allows farmers to detect,
monitor and track the spread of Fall Armyworm directly in their fields. FAMEWS
was already being used in Madagascar, South Africa and Zambia, before it is
deployed in the rest of Africa by the end of February.
In Africa to
date, FAO is currently supporting the development of six full project proposals
- in Benin, Gambia, Kenya, Republic of Congo and Tanzania - several other
"readiness" proposals.
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