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Management of the Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera Fruiperda) in Botswana - TCP/BOT/3702

Year of publication 2022

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 10

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Project

Synopsis (short abstract) Government initiatives to improve food security in Botswana are often affected by transboundary pests and diseases, which hamper trade and agricultural production The introduction of new pests in the country has historically proved to be challenging, as the management and eradication of these pests requires significant human and financial resources Botswana has struggled with the invasion of the Oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis the Tomato leaf miner Tuta absoluta and most recently, with the Fall armyworm ( Spodoptera frugiperda When the FAW was first detected in Botswana in 2017 the government enacted a number of interventions, aiming to ensure sustainable food security Public awareness raising campaigns on the FAW were carried out, and training sessions were conducted The government provided chemicals and technical support to the farming community and promoted Integrated Pest Management ( approaches to move farmers from the persistent use of synthetic pesticides (most of which are highly hazardous and carcinogenic) to the use of biopesticides To support and advance these interventions, the design of this project included further technical assistance to government staff, farmers and other stakeholders in Botswana by continuing to build their capacities and supplying inputs for the detection, monitoring, control and management of FAW.

Language English

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    Strengthening ECOWAS Coordination and Communication on Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera Frugiperda) Monitoring and Impact Assessment in West African Countries - TCP/RAF/3705 2022
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    The human food chain is under continued threat, owing to an alarming increase in the number of outbreaks of transboundary plant pests and diseases Globalization, trade and climate change, as well as reduced resilience in production systems, as a result of decades of unsustainable agricultural intensification, have all played a role Over the years, 20 to 60 percent of harvest loss of various food crops in West Africa has been attributed to the prevalence of plant pest and diseases in the ECOWAS region The presence of plant pathogens has significantly contributed to food insecurity, leading to health challenges such as stunting in children, and less competitiveness in regional and international trade.
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    Support to AU-DREA in Reinforcement of Plant Health Governance in Africa through Coordinated Management of the Fall Armyworm – Spodoptera Frugiperda (PHGOV-FAW) - TCP/RAF/3614 2020
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    The Fall Armyworm ( was first detected in central and western Africa in 2016 Native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, the FAW feeds on over 80 species of plant Many of these, including maize, rice, sorghum, millet, sugarcane, cotton and various vegetables, are important crops in Africa The pest spread quickly to other sub regions of the continent, and by mid 2017 28 countries in sub Saharan Africa had reported the presence of FAW Pest outbreaks in many African countries are generally controlled with the use of agrochemicals (mainly pesticides) Oftentimes, pesticides are deployed at high concentrations, thereby increasing the risk of pesticide residue in produce The reliance on these chemicals to control pests increases production costs and poses risks to human health and the environment This project was formulated to facilitate a coordinated response to managing the FAW throughout sub Saharan Africa The Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture ( of the African Union played a major role in this response, by working to mobilize political support and commitment to effectively and sustainably manage the FAW at continental level The DREA also supported technical interventions through the Inter African Phytosanitary Council ( of the African Union, which, acting as a Regional Plant Protection Organization, assisted National Plant Protection Organizations ( in confronting FAW related issues and providing the African Union Commission with up to date information regarding FAW outbreaks.
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