BSS, Dinajpur :
Experts at different sessions of a training course have said the prevalence of ‘Fall Armyworm’, an invasive pest native to the Americas, is becoming a remarkable threat to farmers’ incomes and livelihoods. They viewed this at the 10-day master trainers’ training on “Fight back against fall armyworm: Integrated pest management solutions” ended at BRAC Learning Center here on Wednesday, a press release said on Thursday. The training was arranged for developing master trainers to combat the spread of fall armyworm that was first identified in growing maize plants in Bangladesh in late 2018. Agricultural professionals of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) from 25 maize-producing districts, scientists from research institutes and officials of national and multinational agri-input supplying companies participated in the event in four batches.
The Integrated Pest Management Activity (IPMA) project of International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) organized the training under management of the Dinajpur Hub of CIMMYT.
The USAID-run Feed the Future initiative extended support with the help of Virginia Tech University and in collaboration with Bangladesh Wheat and Maize Research Institute (BWMRI) and the DAE. The training focused on identification, field scouting, monitoring techniques and control management of Fall Armyworm with hands-on experience in both classroom sessions and field orientation conducted by senior consultant of CIMMYT Bangladesh and former Director of BARI Dr. Syed Nurul Alam. Additional Secretary (Research) of the Ministry of Agriculture Kamalaranjan Das inaugurated the event as the Chief Guest. Director General of BWMRI Dr. Golam Faruq, Senior Consultant of CIMMYT Bangladesh and former Director General of the DAE Dr. Md. Abdul Muyeed, Additional Director (in-charge) of the DAE’s Dinajpur region Md. Shah Alam and Coordinator of the Dinajpur Hub of CIMMYT Agriculturist Alanuzzaman were present in different sessions.
Alanuzzaman said the hungry caterpillars of Fall Armyworm feed on more than 80 plant species like maize, rice, sorghum, sugarcane, cotton and vegetables.
“But, its preferred host is maize, a crop whose acreage is expanding faster than any other cereal crop in Bangladesh,” he said.
Dr. Golam Faruq said the pest presents a peculiar challenge as it can disperse over 200 kilometers during its adult stage, laying thousands of eggs along its way.
Once settled on a plant, larvae burrow inside maize whorls or hide under leaves, where they are partially protected from pesticides. “In a bid to limit fall armyworm damage, farmers’ indiscriminate application of highly toxic and inappropriate insecticides can encourage the pest to develop resistance creating risks to beneficial insects, farmers and the environment,” he added. Kamalaranjan Das said the Ministry of Agriculture is concerned from the very beginning of the prevalence of Fall Armyworm in maize growing areas of Bangladesh and working to make awareness among all concerned.
Dr. Abdul Muyeed said to tackle the Fall Armyworm issue and its spread,CIMMYT is laudably conducting significant public awareness, monitoring and management actions on several crops, particularly maize, since its invasion.
