News
Waging war on the Armyworm
Fall Armyworm concerns demys fied
A�er con rmation by the Department of Agriculture , Forestry and Fisheries ( DAFF ) that the recent pest infestation is in-fact the Fall Armyworm , concerns have been raised around what the impact could be on the South African economy .
Paul Makube , Senior Agricultural Economist at FNB Business believes we are in a good position to deal with the Fall Armyworm due to early detection . He answers questions that have been asked about this recent invader in the sector .
In which provinces is the armyworm present ? At the moment it is in Limpopo and the North West provinces .
What crops have been affected ? Presently it is in maize , potentially in tomatoes and potatoes . �e pest infestation may not be limited to these crops only .
Emergency Plant Pest Response Plan and is fast tracking certi cation of pesticides , monitoring and dissemination of technical information on control options .
How will this affect maize reserves ? �e outbreak , if not contained , has potential to reduce production . However , almost 80 % of the country ' s maize is Bt maize and susceptibility is minimal . �e large maize producing areas of SA are still relatively pest free .
Paul Makube-FNB assistance .
What are the knock-on effects given South Africa is starting to edge out of a drought ?
1 . �ere is an immediate cost to the affected farmers due to the need to source registered and effective pesticides .
2 . Farmers who experience another lost crop ( from the drought ) and income could nd themselves in the red ; it may take them years to fully recover .
Does it have an impact on what we export , could South Africa face import restrictions ? �e pest is airborne , it does not need to be carried in harvested products to enter the country and therefore restrictions of exports will be ineffective . It is a pest that has travelled from the Americas through North Africa and has found its way in Southern Africa .
What is being done to contain the spread of the fall armyworm ? DAFF has implemented the South African
Will this have any impact on the pricing of maize ? Although we should monitor the situation , it is still way too early to conclude what the overall impact could be on price and broader market factors . �is can however quickly change as it is a pest that is airborne and can spread easily .
What should farmers do to ensure minimal impact ? Be alert - Scout for the pest and notify the authorities for technical information and
“ It is still early days , we need to have a measured approach as the pest is new to South Africa . �ere are no proven remedies available for maize in the country , however , there are other chemicals that can be recommended , DAFF has already set in motion that new remedies be registered and certi ed for use . �e commercial sector has the capacity to control the pest when the pesticides become available . We just have to minimise the infestation to ensure that the Fall Armyworm does not have extensive impact on a recovering sector ,” concludes Makube . www . farmersreviewafrica . com FARMERS [ 9 ]
January - February 2017
REVIEW AFRICA