FAO needs more fund to tackle Fall Armyworm

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.