Control Of Fall Armyworm Research Articles

Designing a Pest and Disease Outbreak Warning System for Farmers, Agronomists and Agricultural Input Distributors in East Africa

Simple SummaryDesigning early warning systems for threats to food crops in Africa must respond to the needs of potential users of the system. This paper provides evidence from professional distributors, retailers, researchers, and agronomists in East Africa who may be able to use and communicate the results of the predictive modeling of pest outbreaks. Understanding the timing and spatial extent of required warnings will help guide research and engagement in these rapidly commercializing countries.Early warnings of the risks of pest and disease outbreaks are becoming more urgent, with substantial increases in threats to agriculture from invasive pests. With geospatial data improvements in quality and timeliness, models and analytical systems can be used to estimate potential areas at high risk of yield impacts. The development of decision support systems requires an understanding of what information is needed, when it is needed, and at what resolution and accuracy. Here, we report on a professional review conducted with 53 professional agronomists, retailers, distributors, and growers in East Africa working with the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture. The results showed that respondents reported fall armyworm, stemborers and aphids as being among the most common pests, and that crop diversification was a key strategy to reduce their impact. Chemical and cultural controls were the most common strategies for fall armyworm (FAW) control, and biological control was the least known and least used method. Of the cultural control methods, monitoring and scouting, early planting, and crop rotation with non-host crops were most used. Although pests reduced production, only 55% of respondents were familiar with early warning tools, showing the need for predictive systems that can improve farmer response.

Comparative Screening of Mexican, Rwandan and Commercial Entomopathogenic Nematodes to Be Used against Invasive Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda.

Simple SummaryThe fall armyworm is a devastating insect pest of maize that has recently spread from the Americas to Africa and Asia. Synthetic insecticides are currently being used excessively to fight this pest. Safe, effective and more sustainable alternatives are urgently needed. We explore the use of beneficial entomopathogenic nematodes to control the fall armyworm. These tiny soil-born roundworms are lethal parasites of insects, including caterpillars such as the fall armyworm. We tested forty nematode strains from either the native range of the fall armyworm (Mexico), or the area of invasion (Rwanda), and commercial strains. We found that certain strains of local nematodes from the area of invasion can be as effective in infecting and killing fall armyworm as commercial strains or those from the armyworm’s native range. These findings will aid the development of locally acceptable and effective biological control products.The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is an important pest of maize originating from the Americas. It recently invaded Africa and Asia, where it causes severe yield losses to maize. To fight this pest, tremendous quantities of synthetic insecticides are being used. As a safe and sustainable alternative, we explore the possibility to control FAW with entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN). We tested in the laboratory whether local EPNs, isolated in the invasive range of FAW, are as effective as EPNs from FAW native range or as commercially available EPNs. This work compared the virulence, killing speed and propagation capability of low doses of forty EPN strains, representing twelve species, after placing them with second-, third- and sixth-instar caterpillars as well as pupae. EPN isolated in the invasive range of FAW (Rwanda) were found to be as effective as commercial and EPNs from the native range of FAW (Mexico) at killing FAW caterpillars. In particular, the Rwandan Steinernema carpocapsae strain RW14-G-R3a-2 caused rapid 100% mortality of second- and third-instar and close to 75% of sixth-instar FAW caterpillars. EPN strains and concentrations used in this study were not effective in killing FAW pupae. Virulence varied greatly among EPN strains, underlining the importance of thorough EPN screenings. These findings will facilitate the development of local EPN-based biological control products for sustainable and environmentally friendly control of FAW in East Africa and beyond.

BIOPESTICIDAL EFFECTS OF NEEM LEAF EXTRACT FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF FALL ARMYWORM (Spodoptera Frugiperda) ON MAIZE (Zea Mays L.)

Maize is one of the important cereal crops in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and an important staple food for more than 1.2 billion people in (SSA) and Latin America. Inspite of this, a study was conducted to investigate the effect of Neem Extract in the control of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) on some maize varieties such as Sammaz 15, Rido 9, Sammaz 34, Kapan 6, Oba 98, and Oba super 6. The experiment was laid down in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Six varieties of maize were evaluated in Minna, Nigeria during 2021 cropping season. Growth and yield parameter were recorded. The data were subjected to analysis of variance. Results revealed that the effect of Neem Extract varied among the six maize varieties in control of fall armyworm. Sammaz 34, Sammaz 15, and Oba 98 were superior in most of growth and yield parameter. These three varieties could be adopted for breeding for high yield and tolerant to fall armyworm in the study area.

Control of Fall Armyworm With Labeled and Experimental Biopesticides Insecticides in Sweet Corn, Spring 2021

Control of Fall Armyworm With Labeled and Experimental Biopesticides Insecticides in Sweet Corn, Spring 2021

Virulence and genetic characterization of six baculovirus strains isolated from different populations of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith, 1797), is a polyphagous, voracious, and economically important agricultural pest. Biological control of FAW is a strategy that must be further explored. This study evaluated six baculovirus strains isolated from infected FAW larvae from Mexico, Argentina, Honduras, and the United States. Five alphabaculoviruses (SfNPV-An2, SfNPV-Arg, SfNPV-Fx, SfNPV-Ho, and SfNPV-Sin) and one betabaculovirus (SfGV-RV) were tested against FAW larvae, showing a wide diversity of virulence levels among strains when their estimated LC50s were compared, being SfNPV-Arg, SfNPV-Ho and SfNPV-Fx more virulent than SfNPV-An2, SfNPV-Sin, and SfGV-RV. To determine any virulence difference in vitro studies of these isolates, Sf9 cell cultures were used. Interestingly, only ODVs from four of the test SfNPV strains showed infectivity on Sf9 cell cultures, and some differences in virulence were observed. Genomic restriction analyses and partial sequences of lef-8, lef-9, and polh/granulin genes showed little variability among alphabaculoviruses, both, among them and with previously reported sequences. However, sequences from SfGV-RV were closer to previously reported sequences from the SfGV-VG008 strain than the SfGV-Arg and SfGV-VG014 strains. The great difference in the in vivo virulence was not correlated with great similarity among the isolates. The characterization of these six baculovirus isolates offers the basis for exploring their potential as biological control agents against S. frugiperda, as well the initial studies on their specific infection mechanisms, evolution, and ecology.

Intensity of adoption of integrated pest management practices in Rwanda: A fractional logit approach

The push-pull technology (PPT) is considered as an alternative integrated pest management strategy for the control of fall armyworm and stemborer, among smallholder maize farmers in sub-Sahara African to conventional pesticides. However, the extent of PPT use in Rwanda where the technology was introduced in 2017 remains largely unexplored. This paper employed a fractional logit model to assess the factors influencing the intensity of adoption of PPT among smallholder maize farmers in Gatsibo and Nyagatare districts of Rwanda using survey data obtained from 194 PPT adopter households selected using a cluster sampling technique. While only 5 percent of smallholder farmers in Rwanda have adopted PPT as an integrated pest management strategy, on the average, these farmers cultivated 26 percent of their maize plots to the technology. Our results show that the perceived benefits of PPT, its perceived effectiveness in pest control, group membership, livestock ownership, and gender of the farmer had significant effects on the intensity of adoption of the PPT in Rwanda. These findings give compelling evidence to recommend that development initiatives should give emphasis on creating awareness on the perceived benefits of PPT adoption using group approaches that are gender disaggregated.

Botanicals Vs Insecticides :Relative safety of recommended botanicals / insecticides for the management of Fall armyworm against Telenomus remus

The present study aimed to assessthe safety of insecticides and botanicals forFAW management against Telenomus remus. Laboratory investigation on the effect of botanicals / insecticides on the parasitic potential of T. remus on FAW eggs revealed maximum parasitization and parasitoid emergence from chlorantraniliprole treated eggs (97.2 and 95.4 %) followed by azadirachtin, emamectin benzoate, flubendiamide and Spinetorum. Similarly, pot culture study revealed maximum parasitization (97.0%) and parasitoid emergence (90.1%) in egg masses treated with chlorantraniliprole indicating the relative safety of chlorantraniliprole to T. remus. Chlorantraniliprole and emamectin benzoate control Fall armyworm. The foregoing experimental results show that T. remus can be a good candidate for integrated FAW management.

Farmers' knowledge and management practices of the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda Smith) in Burkina Faso

Description of the subject. The fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda Smith has recently invaded sub-Saharan African countries where it causes significant losses to maize since 2016. Objectives. In this study, we examined farmers' knowledge of the fall armyworm, changes in pest management practices, and the safety of insecticide use by farmers since the recent invasion of the pest in Burkina Faso. Method. Data were collected through a survey of 197 maize farmers. Results. The majority of the farmers (96%) had experienced the fall armyworm invasion, mainly on maize, but also on sorghum and rice. Almost none of them (7%) used chemical insecticides to control maize pests before the arrival of the pest. Since then, 84% have used chemical insecticides, but various measures have also been implemented: cultural practices (48%) such as early planting, crop associations and fertilization; physical control (29%, i.e, handpicking, application of sand and ash) and applications of aqueous extracts of Azadirachta indica and Khaya senegalensis (12%). Most farmers do not use protective equipment when handling insecticides. Although they can name several natural enemies of the fall armyworm based on the photographs presented to them, they are generally unable to describe their beneficial role. Conclusions. We recommend evaluating the effectiveness of alternatives to chemical insecticides, publishing information on locally available insecticides that effectively control fall armyworm, and training farmers on proper pesticide application methods and natural enemy recognition.

Farmers’ control strategies against fall armyworm and determinants of implementation in two districts of the Upper West Region of Ghana

Fall armyworm (FAW) infestation and control strategies used by maize farmers in two districts of Ghana’s Upper West Region were studied. We first identified the various strategy maize farmers use to manage FAW infestations from cross-sectional data. Next, we employed a multivariate probit model to analyse factors influencing control strategy choices. FAW infestation is a major issue farmers in the study area face, as 67% of them perceived it to be increasing year after year since 2016. Farmers responded to FAW infestation with crop uprooting and disposal (88%), early planting (86%), pesticide use (68%), improved seeds (67%), handpicking (30%) and powdered soap or OMO (27%) as control measures. While several factors influenced farmers’ choices of these control strategies, farmers participating in contract farming were more likely to choose improved seeds, while those receiving agricultural training were more likely to plant early or use improved seeds as FAW control measures. Well-designed farmer-friendly contracts and provision of agricultural training can help farmers adopt appropriate agronomic practices that enable them to contain the FAW outbreak in the study area.

Fall armyworm in Botswana: impacts, farmer management practices and implications for sustainable pest management.

BACKGROUNDSince first reported in Botswana, fall armyworm (FAW) continues to be a threat to crop production. This study aimed to estimate impacts of FAW on yield and farmers' livelihoods in Botswana, and to obtain data that could be extrapolated to national level. Further, farmer knowledge of the pest, management practices and pesticide use for FAW management were assessed.RESULTSIn fact, 76% of the 220 respondents had seen FAW in their farms in the 2018/2019 cropping season, affecting almost the entire and about half of cultivated area for maize and sorghum, respectively. Thus, 51% of the respondents implemented FAW control measures, with chemical pesticides (27%) being the most common management against FAW. Only 33% of respondents in 2018/2019 were food self‐sufficient, as opposed to 80% in an ordinary year, with farmers who reported not to have been affected by FAW more likely to be insufficient with food (88%) compared to 60% of the farmers who reported FAW attack. Drought was ranked the major stress experienced by the famers (35%), and also showed significant yield reducing effects on maize yield with pest and diseases reported second most important. Pesticides (20%) and training on pest management (18%) were the top ranked needs by farmers interviewed.CONCLUSIONSThis study confirms the impact and threat of FAW to crop production in Botswana. Chemicals remain the go‐to control option by a majority of the farmers. Other low‐risk technologies exist and are proposed for adoption in the management of FAW. Of note is the acknowledgement that a single control strategy will not be effective against FAW and as such integrated pest management (IPM) on an area‐wide scale is needed to achieve best results. Mass awareness, training and demonstration will be required to achieve this.

Field evaluation of a new third generation push-pull technology for control of striga weed, stemborers, and fall armyworm in western Kenya

SummaryProduction of cereal crops in sub-Saharan Africa is threatened by parasitic striga weeds and attack by stemborers and the invasive fall armyworm (FAW), compounded by increasing hot and dry conditions. A climate-smart push-pull technology (PPT) significantly reduces effects of these biotic challenges. To improve further resilience of the system to climate change, more adapted and suitable companion plants were identified and integrated in a new version of PPT, termed ‘third generation PPT’. Our study evaluates field performance and farmer opinions of this new version in comparison with the earlier version, climate-smart PPT, and farmers’ own practices of growing maize in controlling stemborers, FAW, and striga weeds. Trials were conducted across five locations in western Kenya for two cropping seasons in the year 2019 following a one-farm one-replicate completely randomized design. We assessed infestation on striga, stemborers, and FAW, and yield performance of the three cropping systems. We also sought the opinions of the hosting farmers through semi-structured questionnaires that were administered through individual interviews. Both PPT plots recorded significantly (P < 0.05) lower striga count, FAW, and stemborer damage, and higher grain yield than in plots that followed farmers’ own practices. There was no statistically significant difference between the two PPT plots except for stemborer damage for which the third generation PPT recorded higher damage than the climate-smart PPT. However, farmers preferred the third generation PPT for important traits possessed by its companion plants which their counterparts in climate-smart PPT are deficient. The cultivar Xaraes was rated as ‘very good’ for resistance to spider mites, biomass yield, and drought tolerance while Desmodium incanum was rated ‘very good’ for seed production and drought tolerance. The third generation PPT is based on companion crops that are more resilient to hot and dry conditions which are increasing rapidly in prevalence with climate change. This version therefore presents a better option to upscale the technology and meet different needs of farmers especially in arid and semi-arid conditions.

Socioeconomic and health impacts of fall armyworm in Ethiopia.

Since 2016, fall armyworm (FAW) has threatened sub-Saharan 'Africa's fragile food systems and economic performance. Yet, there is limited evidence on this transboundary pest's economic and food security impacts in the region. Additionally, the health and environmental consequences of the insecticides being used to control FAW have not been studied. This paper presents evidence on the impacts of FAW on maize production, food security, and human and environmental health. We use a combination of an agroecology-based community survey and nationally representative data from an agricultural household survey to achieve our objectives. The results indicate that the pest causes an average annual loss of 36% in maize production, reducing 0.67 million tonnes of maize (0.225 million tonnes per year) between 2017 and 2019. The total economic loss is US$ 200 million, or 0.08% of the gross domestic product. The lost production could have met the per capita maize consumption of 4 million people. We also find that insecticides to control FAW have more significant toxic effects on the environment than on humans. This paper highlights governments and development partners need to invest in sustainable FAW control strategies to reduce maize production loss, improve food security, and protect human and environmental health.

Different controlling methods of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) in maize farms of small-scale producers in Cameroon

Fall armyworm (FAW) is a polyphagous and voracious pest, destroying maize plants in farms in Cameroon. An annual yield loss is estimated to range from15 to 78%, valued at US$ 2,481 to US$ 6,187 million. With most damage experienced in the mono-cropping system. Maize is the most widely grown cereal crop globally due to its several uses, namely human consumption, animal feed and biofuel. In Cameroon, maize is a staple food grown by small- scale producers in all ten regions. The control of FAW is unsuccessful with only the use of pesticide method, the application is knowledge-intensive, and misuse often leads to pesticide resistance, resurgence and increased production cost. The purpose of this review was to explore the different controlling methods adopted to suppress FAW from causing economic damage in maize farms of small-scale producers in Cameroon. Integrated pest management (IPM) approach was used to control FAW, including cultural control, chemical control, botanicals, push-pull farming system, biological control and indigenous knowledge. Results showed that push-pull farming system provides protection and improves maize nutrition, botanicals have similar efficacy like synthetic insecticide, and wood ash is a bio-pesticide. The combined application of pesticides and handpicking FAW was effective though feasible in small surface areas. Based on the general assessment, the push-pull farming system deserves to be promoted due to its numerous benefits: eco-friendly, enhancement of natural enemies, increased soil fertility and economic returns. Natural enemies and bio-pesticides application are essential to control FAW since farmers are resource-poor, causes no health problem and are environmentally friendly.

Influence of three insecticides targeting GABA receptor on fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda: Analyses from individual, biochemical and molecular levels

The fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a severe agricultural pest, which has invaded into China in 2019 and caused heavy damage to maize. The γ-aminobutyric acid receptor (GABAR)-targeted insecticides including broflanilide, fluralaner and fipronil exhibit high toxicity towards lepidopteran pests. However, whether they could be used for control of FAW and their possible mode of action in FAW remain unclear. In this study, broflanilide, fluralaner and fipronil exhibited high oral toxicity in FAW larvae with median lethal dose (LD50) values of 0.677, 0.711, and 23.577 mg kg−1 (active ingredient/ artificial food), respectively. In the electrophysiological assay, fluralaner and fipronil could strongly inhibit GABA-induced currents of homomeric FAW resistance to dieldrin 1 (RDL1) receptor with median inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 5.018 nM (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.864–8.789) and 8.595 nM (95% CI 5.105–14.47), respectively, whereas broflanilide could not. In addition, the cytochrome P450 (P450), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and carboxylesterase (CarE) activities were positively response to broflanilide, P450 and GST to fluralaner, and GST and CarE to fipronil, respectively, compared with those of control. In conclusion, we firstly reported a notable insecticidal activity of three representative GABAR-targeted insecticides to FAW in vivo, and in vitro using electrophysiological assay. The GST is the primary detoxification enzyme for three tested insecticides. Our results would guide the rotational use of GABAR-targeted insecticides in field.

Exploring integrated pest management strategies in the control of the fall armyworm in smallholder organic agriculture farms in Africa


 
 
 The invasion of the fall armyworm was first reported in Africa in the year 2016. It has since then spread to over 40 countries across Africa, Asia and Australia. Being a polyphagous insect, the potential devastation effects of fall armyworm are enormous, especially among smallholder farmers. Currently, most farmers rely on the use of synthetic pesticides for the control of this pest. Organic agriculture however usually has very limited synthetic products approved for the control of pests. Organic production system therefore often depends on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions for the management of pest. This paper reviews the availablemanagement methods applicable to the control of fall armyworm that can be adopted in an organic agriculture setting. Agroecological methods such as the push-pull technology, crop rotation and other methods including the use of resistant varieties, pheromone traps and biocontrol agents form an important control building block. Integrating these methods in a manner that is acceptable for organic certification will need further research, but it is certainly the way to go in combating the menace of the fall armyworm in organic agricultureand were reviewed in this paper.
 
 

Toxicological analysis of stilbenes against the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, is a global pest of multiple economically important row crops and the development of resistance to commercially available insecticidal classes has inhibited FAW control. Thus, there is a need to identify chemical scaffolds that can provide inspiration for the development of novel insecticides for FAW management. This study aimed to assess the sensitivity of central neurons and susceptibility of FAW to chloride channel modulators to establish a platform for repurposing existing insecticides or designing new chemicals capable of controlling FAW. Potency of select chloride channel modulators were initially studied against FAW central neuron firing rate and rank order of potency was determined to be fipronil > lindane >Z-stilbene > DIDS > GABA >E-stilbene. Toxicity bioassays identified fipronil and lindane as the two most toxic modulators studied with topical LD50's of 41 and 75 ng/mg of caterpillar, respectively. Interestingly, Z-stilbene was toxic at 300 ng/mg of caterpillar, but no toxicity was observed with DIDS or E-stilbene. The significant shift in potency between stilbene isomers indicates structure-activity relationships between stilbene chemistry and the binding site in FAW may exist. The data presented in this study defines the potency of select chloride channel modulators to FAW neural activity and survivorship to establish a platform for development of novel chemical agents to control FAW populations. Although stilbenes may hold promise for insecticide development, the low toxicity of the scaffolds tested in this study dampen enthusiasm for their development into FAW specific insecticides.

Managing Fall Armyworm in Africa: Can Bt Maize Sustainably Improve Control?

The recent invasion of Africa by fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, a lepidopteran pest of maize and other crops, has heightened concerns about food security for millions of smallholder farmers. Maize genetically engineered to produce insecticidal proteins from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a potentially useful tool for controlling fall armyworm and other lepidopteran pests of maize in Africa. In the Americas, however, fall armyworm rapidly evolved practical resistance to maize producing one Bt toxin (Cry1Ab or Cry1Fa). Also, aside from South Africa, Bt maize has not been approved for cultivation in Africa, where stakeholders in each nation will make decisions about its deployment. In the context of Africa, we address maize production and use; fall armyworm distribution, host range, and impact; fall armyworm control tactics other than Bt maize; and strategies to make Bt maize more sustainable and accessible to smallholders. We recommend mandated refuges of non-Bt maize or other non-Bt host plants of at least 50% of total maize hectares for single-toxin Bt maize and 20% for Bt maize producing two or more distinct toxins that are each highly effective against fall armyworm. The smallholder practices of planting more than one maize cultivar and intercropping maize with other fall armyworm host plants could facilitate compliance. We also propose creating and providing smallholder farmers access to Bt maize that produces four distinct Bt toxins encoded by linked genes in a single transgene cassette. Using this novel Bt maize as one component of integrated pest management could sustainably improve control of lepidopteran pests including fall armyworm.

Broadcasting of tiny granules by drone to mimic liquid spraying for the control of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda).

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), is an invasive pest. Maize is one of its preferred host plants. The traditional application of granules has been effective for the control of FAW. Nevertheless, the challenge is to develop an application method that is less labor-intensive and also efficient. Tiny granules in the size range of 0.38-0.55 mm were prepared by the centrifugal granulation method for drone application. The in-swath distribution patterns of granules deposited on sticky tapes were similar to the distribution of aqueous droplets through drone spraying. In the range of 1.5-3.5m, a relatively higher aircraft height of flight can provide a more uniform distribution pattern of deposited granules, but resulted in less deposit of tiny granules in the whorl of maize plants. Similarly, the deposit of granules in the whorl of maize plants significantly decreased when the flight speed increased from 4 to 6m s-1 . Granules gathered in the whorl accounted for 50.8-58.7% of total granules deposited in the maize canopy. The field experiment demonstrates granular formulations (containing 0.25% chlorantraniliprole +0.15% emamectin benzoate, or higher concentrations) can provide better and longer duration of FAW control than the aqueous spray formulation at the whorl stage of maize plants. Broadcasting of tiny granules by drone can provide better FAW control than liquid spray. The architecture of the maize plant and the downward airstream of the drone create favorable conditions for the deposition of granules in whorls. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Baseline Susceptibility of Spodoptera frugiperda Populations Collected in India towards Different Chemical Classes of Insecticides.

Simple SummaryFall armyworm (FAW) is a highly destructive moth pest and its larvae feed on many different host plants, including major crops such as maize. This pest is native to the Americas but invaded the Eastern hemisphere in 2016. It is highly migratory and was first detected in India in 2018, where it rapidly became a major threat to maize production across India. FAW control mostly relies on the application of chemical insecticides and transgenic crop plants expressing insecticidal proteins of bacterial origin. FAW has developed resistance against insecticides, and for management purposes, it is important to assess its sensitivity status against different chemical classes of insecticides, particularly in invaded regions. In this study, we conducted more than 400 bioassays with nine different insecticides from seven mode-of-action groups on 47 FAW populations collected in 2019 and 2020 across different geographical areas in India. The baseline susceptibility determined for all these insecticides will help to set-up appropriate resistance management strategies to keep FAW infestations in India below economic damage thresholds.Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, is a major pest of maize in the Americas and recently invaded the Eastern hemisphere. It was first detected in India in 2018 and is considered a major threat to maize production. FAW control largely relies on the application of chemical insecticides and transgenic crops expressing Bacillus thuringiensis insecticidal proteins. Assessing FAW resistance and insecticide susceptibility is a cornerstone to develop sustainable resistance management strategies. In this study, we conducted more than 400 bioassays to assess the efficacy of nine insecticides from seven mode-of-action classes against 47 FAW populations collected in 2019 and 2020 across various geographical areas in India. The resistance status of the field-collected populations was compared to an Indian population sampled in 2018, and an insecticide susceptible reference population collected in 2005 in Brazil. Low to moderate resistance levels were observed for thiodicarb, chlorpyriphos, deltamethrin, chlorantraniliprole and flubendiamide in several populations (including the reference population collected in 2018). The highest resistance ratios were observed for deltamethrin which likely compromises recommended label rates for pyrethroid insecticides in general. Our data provide a useful baseline for future FAW resistance monitoring initiatives and highlight the need to implement insecticide resistance management strategies.

Deployment of Maize technologies in Western Kenya: An outcome case study report. TAAT MEL working document No. 002

The Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation ( TAAT ) is a program initiated by the African Development Bank (AfDB) as part of its Feed Africa Initiative. The main objective of the program is to improve the business of agriculture across Africa by raising agricultural productivity and improving farmer livelihoods by mitigating risks and promoting diversification and processing across nine agricultural commodity value chains within eight identified Priority Intervention Areas (PIA). The program is implemented by IITA in close partnership with other CGIAR Centers, specialized technical centers (e.g. African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) etc), Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), national agricultural research and extension systems (NARES) and private sector partners. TAAT is not a research program but is rather an initiative focused on scaling high-performance food production technologies to millions of farmers in a commercially sustainable way through a network of strategic partners. Technical coordination of the program is provided by the TAAT Clearinghouse, a semi-autonomous unit in the program's management structure serving as an honest broker in the identification and assessment of proven technologies and products that are ready for widespread dissemination, as well as linking these technical opportunities to wider national investment development agendas. The TAAT program increases agricultural productivity through the deployment at scale of and high-performance agricultural technologies along selected value chains. TAAT operates as a network of interacting with nine devoted to specific commodity value chains, and six others serving as Enablers that provide needed specialist services. The nine (9) value chain Compacts are rice, maize, cassava, wheat, sorghum & millet, orange-flesh sweet potato, high-iron beans, small ruminants & poultry, and aquaculture. The six (6) enabler Compacts are soil fertility management, water management, capacity building, seed policy, fall army worm control, and youth in agribusiness Compacts each of which provides enabling services to the nine commodity value chains. The TAAT Maize Compact is led by the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) in collaboration with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). The TAAT Maize Compact aims to disseminate water-efficient maize hybrids as a climate-smart option across the continent to improve the productivity of maize farmers. Included in the technology package deployed by the Maize compact is licensing of hybrids to seed producers that provide an avenue for mass dissemination. Through outreach campaigns and knowledge-sharing efforts, the Compact deploys across agro-ecological zones to reach the Compact's intended 2,000,000 million beneficiaries. The establishment of technology demonstrations in the fields stimulates interest by showing the positive impact of the technologies to the farmers and then used to leverage resources from African Countries for long-term implementation and sustainable national programs. Implementation through national agricultural investment programs is the only way to ensure the sustainability of technology delivery. It shall be noted that the TAAT Maize Compact technologies are supported by a very strong ecosystem of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) seen through the participation of commercial seed companies working in partnership with farmer groups, commodity associations, and National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS). Primary beneficiaries of the maize technology dissemination efforts are smallholder farmers. The technologies deployed and promoted include: Elite Water Efficient Maize for Africa varieties (WEMA) Appropriate fertilizer blends Optimal maize planting density Efficient pest and weed management Post-harvest management Supportive marketing Mechanization Promoting good agricultural practices on the field. In Kenya, maize is the main staple food, yet it continues to face several challenges undermining its production to meet full self-sufficiency including drought, diseases, and pests such as the Fall Armyworm (FAW), Striga parasitic weed, and the Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease (MLND). In collaboration with its partners, the TAAT Maize Compact deployed several climate-smart maize technologies, optimal planting density, weed management, fertilizer blends, and pest and disease management technologies to facilitate the delivery mechanism of such technologies to farmers and scale them out across the country. The ground-truthing mission team observed that the intervention of the TAAT Maize Compact has benefited from a strategic ecosystem of partnerships that have contributed to increased yields for farmers that has, in turn, resulted in strong linkages and trust with local millers. Millers offer to farmers ready markets to sell out their produce When compared to maize landraces, farmers are also expecting to sell a bag of 90Kg of grains for 3,000KES giving them a marginal benefit (profit) of 1,000KES. This expected high price is due to the current maize shortages. To back up testimonials and information given by farmers during the TAAT Maize MEL mission in Western Kenya, the team opted to review journals from previous studies on the farmer adoption and on-farm performance of DroughtTEGOTM (We1101).