Augmentative Biocontrol of Fall Armyworm in Kenya
Fall armyworm (FAW) scientifically known as Spodoptera frugiperda is a destructive insect pest of maize capable of causing significant yield losses. The FAW larvae attacks maize plant at all developmental stages. Since 2016 when it first reached Africa, the pest has rapidly spread to nearly every country in the Sub Saharan Africa.
Management of FAW requires the deployment of all tactics within the context of integrated pest management (IPM). In 2021, Dream Team Agro Consultancy Limited in Kenya was funded by the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Current and Emerging Threats to Crops (CETC) to scale integrated pest management packages in maize production.
The project involved establishment of 1000 farmers plots that uses the following technologies; the use of parasitoids against fall armyworm, use of maize-legume intercropping, Toothpick’s kichawi kill bio- herbicide against striga weed, the use of resistant seeds to maize lethal necrosis disease, conservation agriculture practices and application of biochar to help amend soil.
The CETC Innovation Lab’s collaboration with the Dream Team Agro Consultancy Limited involved working with scientists in International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) to mass-produce and release natural enemies to mitigate FAW pest.
Dream Team Agro Consultancy Limited sent research extension officer Brenda Cheptoo, Frankline Areba and Valentina Ngoji to icipe in Kenya to receive training on the mass production of parasitoids. Dr. Sevgan Subramanian,a principal scientist for icipe, facilitated the training, which led to the development of a parasitoid rearing facility at Alupe University College in Busia, Kenya.
“The knowledge we acquired enabled us to establish our own satellite lab that has allowed smallholder farmers to access parasitoids,” said Frankline Areba, technician Dream Team Agro Consultancy limited. “We have also trained other research extension officers in this project on parasitoid pre-release assessment and release techniques and protocols.”
So far, over 25 million egg parasitoids of Telenomus remus and Trichogramma chilonis that parasitize FAW eggs have been released in ten counties (Busia, Bungoma, Bomet, Vihiga, Siaya, Kakamega, Homabay, Uasin Gishu, Transzoia, and Kilifi) of Kenya with very encouraging results.
Egg parasitoid, Telenomus remus parasitizing FAW eggs. Photo credit; icipe
“The released parasitoids works to decrease the population of FAW and increase food security. For these parasitoids to be able to effectively contribute to the suppression of pest, we encourage farmers minimize application of chemical insecticides inorder to conserve them and build its population on the field”, added Brenda Cheptoo.
“There are further plans for mass releases of these beneficial insects in more maize fields in Kenya. The goal is to release 30-million egg parasitoid in this planting season. Also, plans are under way with Pwani University to establish additional lab in Kilifi and expand the releases of these natural enemies to other counties”, concluded Brenda Cheptoo, technician, Dream Team Agro Consultancy Limited.
Our approach focusses on evaluating the spread of parasitoids and develop epidemiological models of spread and economic models of yield changed based on their experimental approaches. Further, we intend to gather evidence and influence policy to increase the adoption of parasitoids as a critical tool for controlling FAW and improve maize yield.
Sources