Impact of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) (J.E. Smith) on small-scale maize farmers and its control strategies in the Limpopo province, South Africa.

Livhuwani R. Nnzeru,Phumudzo P. Tshikhudo,Mankwana C. Makgoba,Rudzani A. Makhado

doi:10.4102/jamba.v13i1.1016

Livhuwani R. Nnzeru, Phumudzo P. Tshikhudo + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4102/jamba.v13i1.1016

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Abstract

South Africa experienced major outbreaks of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), causing direct damage by feeding on both vegetative and reproductive parts of host plant. The study was conducted to determine the level of impact of fall armyworm on small-scale maize famers after the outbreak of fall armyworm and their control strategies at Ga-Mashashane and Mankweng villages in the Limpopo province. Semi-structured questionnaire was designed to gather information on the damage caused by fall armyworm, economic impact on the local market and control measures on fall armyworm. Using a snowball sampling procedure, 63 small-scale maize farmers from the two villages of the Limpopo province, South Africa, were randomly selected for this study. The results showed that all participants could correctly identify the fall armyworm and reported it as the most important maize pest during 2016–2017 cropping season. The maize yield loss experienced by affected farmers in the 2016–2017 cropping season was slightly lower as compared with the 2015–2016 harvest. These farmers used pesticides as a control measure for fall armyworm. Fall armyworm has become a major pest in South Africa and the tackling of fall armyworm by small-scale farmers and averting yield losses is thus critical. This study contributes to the knowledge on fall armyworm management by small-scale farmers, which is essential to enhancing food security.

Highlights

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most significant staple foods to many African communities, including South Africa
This study concluded that fall armyworm is a serious threat to maize production, which rural people depends on as a staple diet
Small-scale farmers are aware of fall armyworm morphology and damage, its control measures varies based on support provided and individual farmer capacity to control the worm

Summary

Introduction

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most significant staple foods to many African communities, including South Africa. The African continent experienced major outbreaks of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) attacking maize crop, which is difficult to control. Spodoptera frugiperda is widely distributed in America, causing the most serious damage to about 80 different commercial crops, including maize, rice, sorghum, sugarcane, cabbage, beet, groundnut, soybean, alfalfa, onion, pasture grasses, millet, tomato, potato and cotton (Day et al 2017). In Uganda, this pest attacked crops such as cotton, sugar cane, banana and vegetables (Tajuba 2017). The insect pest prefers grasses, in which the field crops that are often damaged include barley, bermudagrass, buckwheat, clover, oats, peanuts, ryegrass, sugarbeets, sudangrass, soybeans, sugarcane, timothy, tobacco and wheat. Fall armyworm can cause damage to host plant species such as Sorghum halepense, bentgrass, crabgrass, johnsongrass, nutsedge, pigweed, sandspur and Cenchrus tribuloides (Barlow 2009)

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