Spread and impact of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith) in maize production areas of Kenya.

ABSTRACT: Fall armyworm (FAW), one of the most important pests of maize in Latin America, suddenly appeared in Africa in 2016 and spread rapidly. Estimates of crop losses due to FAW are essential in order to compare the impact of these losses with the cost of controlling FAW and advise appropriate technology dissemination and policy. In this study, therefore, crop losses due to FAW in 2017 and 2018 were estimated in all the maize production areas of Kenya. Data were collected during June and July 2018 through 121 group discussions with 1439 farmers, separately with men (697) and women (742), in communities that were randomly selected to represent the major maize growing areas. The results showed that most participants (82%) could correctly identify the FAW from pictures. By 2016, FAW was observed by

SUBMITTER: De Groote H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7015277 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature